Decomposition of Lecithin in Parenteral Fat Emulsions

¹ From the Nutrition Research Department, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois

Aqueous solutions of alcohol-soluble phosphatide, synthetic lecithin and purified egg lecithin develop hemolytic and other toxic properties over a period of time at ordinary room temperature, or at an increased rate at 40°C. The toxicity of emulsions made with phosphatide as a stabilizer also increases with time. The evidence suggests that hydrolysis of synthetic lecithin proceeds first to give a hemolytic product, presumably lysolecithin. When liberation of both fatty acids from l-alpha-dimyristoyl lecithin was complete and the myristic acid was removed, no toxicity was shown by the aqueous phase, presumably glyceryl phosphorylcholine. Attempts to decrease the hydrolysis of lecithin solutions did not succeed. Although the use of lecithin phosphatide preparations as emulsifiers for intravenous fat may have limitations as to time and temperature of storage, there is no clear indication from these studies that any real hazard is involved from the standpoint of clinical use.