Nitrogen-sparing effect of lipid emulsion in septic dogs.

Effects of intravenously administered lipid emulsion on the nitrogen balance in dogs with intraabdominal infection were investigated. The nitrogen balance in dogs supported by parenteral nutrition (PN) with glucose alone was superior to that in dogs supported by PN with glucose and lipid emulsion, in the absence of intraabdominal infection. On the other hand, the nitrogen balance in dogs supported by PN with glucose and lipid emulsion was superior to that with glucose alone, in the presence of intraabdominal infection. Dogs with intraabdominal infection had an insulin-resistance inability to effectively utilize glucose.