Triacetin: A Potential Parenteral Nutrient

Abstract

Triacetin, the water-soluble triglyceride of acetate, was infused in mongrel dogs at isocaloric (N=6) or hypercaloric (~1.5 REE, N =7) rates in mongrel dogs for 3 hr. Ketone body and glucose production rates were quantified with [¹³C₂] acetoacetate and [³H]glucose, respectively. Four additional animals were infused with glycerol to serve as controls for the hypercaloric triacetin infusion. Energy expenditure was determined in the isocaloric experiments. Results: no evidence of acute toxicity was observed during triacetin infusion at either rate. Plasma acetate concentrations increased from basal levels to ~1 and ~13 mmol/liter in the isocaloric and hypercaloric experiments, respectively. Plasma lactate and pyruvate concentrations decreased dramatically after 30 min of both isocaloric and hypercaloric triacetin infusions. Glucose production rates did not increase in either group, but glucose clearance decreased significantly in both groups (p(Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 15: 32-36, 1991)