Potential of the monoglyceride and triglyceride of dl-3-hydroxybutyrate for parenteral nutrition: Synthesis and preliminary biological testing in the rat

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 1997-03, Vol.13 (3), p.vi,213-vii,219
• Main Authors: Birkhahn, Ronald H., McCombs, Charles, Clemens, Robert, Hubbs, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - physiology; Cohort Studies; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; Dietary Proteins - metabolism; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycerides - chemistry; Glycosuria - metabolism; Hydroxybutyrates - administration & dosage; Hydroxybutyrates - chemistry; Hydroxybutyrates - metabolism; Infusions, Intravenous; ketone bodies; Ketone Bodies - analysis; Male; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nitrogen - urine; parenteral nutrition; Parenteral Nutrition - methods; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; synthetic compounds; Time Factors; toxicity testing; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; β-hydroxbutyrate
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/S0899-9007(96)00404-2

Esters of short-chain organic acids have shown some promise as potential nutrients for parenteral feeding. Most glycerols are water insoluble but those of the ketone bodies have some water solubility. Of interest is that the triacylglycerol of 3-hydroxybutyrate has water solubility while the triacylglycerol of acetoacetate does not. The mono- and triacylglycerol of dl-3-hydroxybutyrate were synthesized and tested for toxicity and nutritional value as parenteral nutrients. Both compounds have an estimated energy density of 19.7 kJ/g (4.7 kcal/g) and are water soluble. The compounds were infused into rats for 7 d at a rate to provide 113 kJ/d and were accompanied by a low-energy oral diet. Control, pair-fed rats were infused with isocaloric glucose or 0.9% saline. Nitrogen intake, output, and balance, body weight changes, and liver size were compared. The two glycerols of 3-hydroxybutyrate supported similar nitrogen retention, body weight changes, and liver size as found in the pair-fed control animals infused with glucose. Rats infused with saline retained less nitrogen, had decreased body weight, and had smaller livers. The data demonstrated that the glycerols of dl-3-hydroxybutyrate are not toxic, provide metabolic energy when infused intravenously, and could be used as nutrients for parenteral feeding.