Abstract
The fat emulsion IntralipidR has been used as a tracer substance for plasma triglyceride in an intravenous fat tolerance test (IVFTT). A single intravenous injection of the emulsion was given; the turbidity of blood samples taken during the next 40 minutes was determined nephelometrically, and the elimination rate and various methodological aspects have been studied. Elimination followed first order kinetics so that a semilogarithmic plot gave a straight line for which the slope k2 could be calculated. Identical results were obtained whether venous plasma or capillary whole blood samples were used. The determination of turbidity due to the IntralipidR emulsion was not affected by the plasma concentration of ‘endogenous’ lipids. Storage of the plasma samples for two weeks before reading did not affect the k2 value. K2 was highly reproducible in the same individual from one day to another. It is suggested that the intravenous fat tolerance test described could be a convenient tool for the study of hyperlipidaemia and lipid metabolism.