Introduction

Name

• Fat.

Class of drug

• Triglycerides.

Description

Chemical name

• Fatty acids and glycerol comprise triglycerides.
• Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are the polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids and their metabolites gamma-linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids.

Uses

Indications

• Parenteral lipid emulsions are used in animals receiving nutritional support.
• Parenteral nutrition mixtures comprise combinations of amino acid and glucose solutions and a fat emulsion.
  It is recommended that specialist advice is sought prior to using parenteral nutrition.
• Medium chain triglycerides are used as energy sources in animals requiring low fat diets, eg those with hyperlipidemia Hyperlipidemia , pancreatic insuffiency Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency , pancreatitis Pancreatitis: acute or lymphangiectasia.
• EFA gamma-linolenic acid may be useful in the management of disorders associated with reduced delta-6-saturase activity (suggested in animals with atopy Skin: atopy and hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism ).
• EFA alpha-linolenic acid may be helpful in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.
• EFAs may be indicated for non-specific cases of poor coat condition, dull harsh coat, excessive moulting and idiopathic seborrhea Skin: primary seborrhea.
• EFAs role in the management of canine or feline arthropathies has yet to be determined. In man alpha-linolenic acid has been shown to improve clinical signs of rheumatoid arthritis.

Administration

Precautions

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Based on Small Animal Formulary. Tennant, Bryn (1999) 3rd edn. Cheltenham: BSAVA.