Omegaven
Encyclopedia
Omegaven is a fatty acid
emulsion produced by Fresenius Kabi. It is used for total parenteral nutrition
(feeding directly into a venous
catheter), e.g. in short bowel syndrome
. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acid
s.
It has gained popularity in children in preference to the more commonly used Intralipid
after case reports that it reduced the risk of liver damage.
A recent study indicated that the use of Omegaven may be an appropriate intervention strategy for newborns with a very low birth weight
, gastrochisis, and jejunal atresia.
It is currently undergoing a clinical trial
at National Taiwan University Hospital
.
Although the use of Omegaven in children in the United States is experimental, the use of it in adults in Europe is less controversial. In European studies, Omegaven has been associated with a reduction in psoriasis
, when contrasted to administration of omega-6 fatty acid
Lipoven. Omegaven has also been associated with reduced mortality and antibiotic use during hospital stays.
Fatty acid
In chemistry, especially biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long unbranched aliphatic tail , which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have a chain of an even number of carbon atoms, from 4 to 28. Fatty acids are usually derived from...
emulsion produced by Fresenius Kabi. It is used for total parenteral nutrition
Total parenteral nutrition
Parenteral nutrition is feeding a person intravenously, bypassing the usual process of eating and digestion. The person receives nutritional formulae that contain nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, lipids and added vitamins and dietary minerals...
(feeding directly into a venous
Vein
In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood to the heart...
catheter), e.g. in short bowel syndrome
Short bowel syndrome
Short bowel syndrome is a malabsorption disorder caused by the surgical removal of the small intestine, or rarely due to the complete dysfunction of a large segment of bowel. Most cases are acquired, although some children are born with a congenital short bowel...
. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acid
Omega-3 fatty acid
N−3 fatty acids are essential unsaturated fatty acids with a double bond starting after the third carbon atom from the end of the carbon chain....
s.
It has gained popularity in children in preference to the more commonly used Intralipid
Intralipid
Intralipid is a brand name for the first safe fat emulsion for human use, approved in 1962 in Europe and invented by Professor Arvid Wretlind, Sweden. The FDA initially would not approve the product due to prior experience with another fat emulsion. It was approved in the United States in 1972...
after case reports that it reduced the risk of liver damage.
A recent study indicated that the use of Omegaven may be an appropriate intervention strategy for newborns with a very low birth weight
Low birth weight
Low birth weight is defined as a birth weight of a liveborn infant of less than 2,500 g. regardless of gestational age-Causes:LBW is either the result of preterm birth or of the infant being small for gestational age , or a combination of...
, gastrochisis, and jejunal atresia.
It is currently undergoing a clinical trial
Clinical trial
Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
at National Taiwan University Hospital
National Taiwan University Hospital
National Taiwan University Hospital started operations under Japanese rule in Dadaocheng on June 18, 1895, and moved to its present location in 1898. The Hospital was later annexed to the Medical School of Taipei Imperial University and renamed Taipei Imperial University Medical School Affiliated...
.
Although the use of Omegaven in children in the United States is experimental, the use of it in adults in Europe is less controversial. In European studies, Omegaven has been associated with a reduction in psoriasis
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
, when contrasted to administration of omega-6 fatty acid
Omega-6 fatty acid
n−6 fatty acids are a family of unsaturated fatty acids that have in common a final carbon–carbon double bond in the n−6 position, that is, the sixth bond, counting from the methyl end.The biological effects of the n−6 fatty acids are largely mediated by their conversion to n-6 eicosanoids...
Lipoven. Omegaven has also been associated with reduced mortality and antibiotic use during hospital stays.
External links
- "Fishing for the Right Solution" at Children's Hospital BostonChildren's Hospital BostonChildren's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
- "The Right Kind of Oil" at Children's Hospital BostonChildren's Hospital BostonChildren's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
- Team on a Mission at Toronto StarToronto StarThe Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
- Old Fashioned Lifeline Boston Globe 1/9/2009