Abstract
We studied the effects of an enterally administered diet containing medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) on protein metabolism in septic Wistar rats and compared them with those of a long-chain triglycerides (LCT). The sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture. The rats were divided into two groups. One group was fed a diet containing a MCT and LCT mixture (MCT/LCT), and the other was fed one containing LCT, as 10% of total energy. The diets also contained protein, dextrin, vitamins, and electrolytes. The experimental diets were via an intraduodenal catheter for 6 days. The MCT/LCT group showed a higher nitrogen balance after 3 days of the feeding and a higher liver protein content compared with the LCT group on the last day. Furthermore, the concentrations of serum total protein and albumin in the MCT/LCT group were higher than those in the LCT group. These results indicate that the enteral diet containing MCT combined with LCT may be advantageous to protein metabolism in septic rats over the diet with LCT alone.
