How can EFAD be prevented in pediatric patients receiving parenteral nutrition support?

How can EFAD be prevented in pediatric patients receiving parenteral nutrition support?

• A. Provide approximately 4% of total calories as fat.
• B. Give only carbohydrates with PN.
• C. Use no fat emulsions.
• D. Keep fat calories below 1% of total calories.

Answer: (A)

Essential fatty acids must be supplied in parenteral nutrition to prevent essential fatty acid deficiency in children. They come from intravenous fat emulsions, and providing a modest fat energy share—about 4% of total calories—delivers these fatty acids (like linoleic acid) without overloading the PN with fat. If you give only carbohydrates, there are no essential fats provided, and EFAD can develop; using no fat emulsions or keeping fat calories below 1% would leave essential fatty acids well short of what the body needs. Therefore, including fat calories around 4% of total energy best prevents EFAD.

Essential fatty acids must be supplied in parenteral nutrition to prevent essential fatty acid deficiency in children. They come from intravenous fat emulsions, and providing a modest fat energy share—about 4% of total calories—delivers these fatty acids (like linoleic acid) without overloading the PN with fat. If you give only carbohydrates, there are no essential fats provided, and EFAD can develop; using no fat emulsions or keeping fat calories below 1% would leave essential fatty acids well short of what the body needs. Therefore, including fat calories around 4% of total energy best prevents EFAD.