Metabolic acidosis and intravenous injections of fat emulsions (role of phospholipids. Experimental study)

: In explanation of metabolic acidosis during parenteral nutrition, the authors considered the supply of H+ ions by fat emulsion, containing phospholipids of egg or soy. During intravenous infusions of 24 grams of lecithins to two healthy subjects, they observed an increased output H+ ions in urine, about 74,05 and 75,88 mEq, and a metabolic acidosis of the plasma. The theorically forcasted supply of production was 74,6 mEq. Indeed the metabolism of phospholipids supplies phosphoric ions (PO4H3), giving H+ ions at pH 7,40. The most used fat emulsions are able to give between 37 (intralipid 10%) and 61 (lipihysan 15%) mEq of H+ ions/liter.