Oral lipid tolerance test

In 534 individuals aged 30 years, whose mothers had participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of antenatal betamethasone (two intramuscular doses 24 hours apart) for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, there were no differences between those exposed to betamethasone and placebo in body size, blood lipids, blood pressure, plasma cortisol, prevalence of diabetes, or history of cardiovascular disease (397). After the oral glucose tolerance test, those who had been exposed to betamethasone had higher plasma insulin concentrations at 30 minutes (61 versus 52 mIU/1) and lower glucose concentrations at 120 minutes (4.8 versus 5.1 mmol/1) than did those exposed to placebo. Antenatal exposure to betamethasone might result in insulin resistance in adult offspring, but has no effect on cardiovascular risk factors at 30 years of age. 

Along with the mentioned above methods, metabolic challenge protocols, such as the oral glucose tolerance test, that can uncover early alterations also in lipid metabolism preceding chronic diseases, were developed and are being successfully used for humans, as discussed by Krug et... 

Iron-deficiency anemia in chronic PN patients may be due to underlying clinical conditions and the lack of iron supplementation in PN. Parenteral iron therapy becomes necessary in iron-deficient patients who cannot absorb or tolerate oral iron. Parenteral iron should be used with caution owing to infusion-related adverse effects. A test dose of 25 mg of iron dextran should be administered first, and the patient should be monitored for adverse effects for at least 60 minutes. Intravenous iron dextran then may be added to lipid-free PN at a daily dose of 100 mg until the total iron dose is given. Iron dextran is not compatible with intravenous lipid emulsions at therapeutic doses and can cause oiling out of the emulsion. Other parenteral iron formulations (e.g., iron sucrose and ferric gluconate) have not been evaluated for compounding in PN and should not be added to PN formulations. 

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