The effects of short term intravenous infusion of a soybean based lipid emulsion on some blood constituents in sheep: A preliminary study

To evaluate the effect of intravenous infusion of a soybean based lipid emulsion (Lipovenoes 10%) on some blood constituents in sheep, a replicated 2 × 2 Latin square design experiment was conducted in four clinically healthy ewes. Lipid emulsion (LE group) or normal saline (NS group) was infused intravenously at a rate of 0.025 mL kg-1 per min for 6 hr and the concentrations of blood triglyceride, glucose, insulin, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and potassium were measured before (baseline) and then at timepoints 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hr after infusion. Compared to the baseline values and/or NS infusion, LE infusion resulted in a significant increase in the concentrations of triglyceride (p < 0.001), glucose (p < 0.01), calcium (p < 0.05), phosphorous (p < 0.01) and a significant decrease in insulin (p < 0.001) and magnesium (p < 0.05) concentrations. Compared to the baseline value, the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index increased (p < 0.001) at timepoints 2 and 4 hr and abruptly decreased at timepoint six hr (p < 0.01) following LE infusion. In LE group, HOMA-IR values were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than those for NS group at timepoints 2 and 4 hr after infusion. Neither treatment nor time influenced serum sodium and potassium concentrations (p > 0.05). In conclusion, intravenous infusion of Lipovenoes temporarily influenced some blood constituents. Increased triglyceride concentrations were associated with an increase in HOMA-IR values indicating a state of insulin resistance. No remarkable adverse effect was observed following LE infusion and lipid based emulsions can be safely used in ruminants not suffering from extensive lipid mobilization.