OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of intralipid on protein consumption in severe burned patients. METHODS; Sixty-seven nonoperative patients with severe burns were divided into Intralipid treatment group and non-intralipid treatment group (control group), and the former was treated with 20% intralipid (500 ml once a day) from postburn day 4 for 10 consecutive days. Venous blood samples were collected from these patients for testing total protein, albumin, total cholesterol and triglyceride on postburn days 1, 7 and 14, respectively.

RESULTSThe levels of total protein, albumin, total cholesterol and triglyceride were within normal range on postburn day 1 in both groups, and only the albumin level was lowered in the groups on day 7 but at comparable magnitudes (32+/-4.83 vs 31+/-5.04 g/L, P<0.05). In contrast, the levels of total protein, albumin, total cholesterol and triglyceride were below the normal range on postburn day 14 in both groups, but intralipid treatment group showed more albumin loss than the control group (28+/-6.46 vs 23+/-7.03 g/L, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIntralipid (20%) provides good energy source to ameliorate albumin loss in severe burned patients.