Tag: Intravenous fat emulsion

Available for over 40 years, a 20 percent lipid emulsion is a sterile, non-pyrogenic fat solution administered intravenously as a crucial source of calories and essential fatty acids. It is a life-saving medical treatment with applications ranging from total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to acting as an antidote for specific types of drug poisoning.

Intravenous fat emulsions, including lipid 20%, have been used in medicine since the 1960s to provide nutrients to patients who cannot consume food orally. Administered directly into the bloodstream, this sterile solution supplies essential calories and fatty acids critical for energy and metabolic function.

A standard 20% lipid emulsion, commonly used in parenteral nutrition, contains approximately 2.0 kcal per milliliter. This guide explains exactly how many calories are in a lipid emulsion, breaking down the caloric density by concentration and detailing the components that contribute to its energy value.