Comparison of metabolic clearance rates of MCT/LCT and LCT emulsions in diabetics

In seven moderately overweight noninsulin-dependent diabetics with slightly elevated triglyceride levels, disappearance rates of infused medium chain triglyceride/long chain triglyceride (MCT/LCT) and long chain triglyceride (LCT) emulsions were compared. Five metabolically healthy volunteers served as controls. During a 3-hr lipid infusion, serum triglycerides reached a steady state with both emulsions in the healthy controls, whereas, in diabetic patients, steady state triglyceride levels were seen only with MCT/LCT. After the end of the lipid infusion, the longest half-life value in the decline of triglyceride levels was found with LCT in diabetics, whereas significantly shorter and quite similar half-life values were found with LCT in healthy controls and with MCT/LCT in diabetics. As expected, the shortest half-life for serum triglycerides was found in healthy controls after MCT/LCT-infusion. Virtually the same differences in serum concentrations and in half-life times were seen with free fatty acids. According to these data, if needed, parenteral nutrition with lipids in states of disturbed glucose and lipid metabolism may preferentially be done with MCT/LCT emulsions.