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Mild Peripheral Neuropathy but Biochemical Chromium Sufficiency during 16 Months of “Chromium‐Free” Total Parenteral Nutrition
Author(s) -
Kien C.L.,
Veillon C.,
Patterson K.Y.,
Farrell P.M.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607186010006662
Subject(s) - chromium , parenteral nutrition , peripheral neuropathy , medicine , peripheral , intensive care medicine , materials science , endocrinology , metallurgy , diabetes mellitus
A 6‐yr, 4‐month‐old boy was started on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) because of chronic diarrhea. The TPN regimen (3 liter/day) initially included supplemented Cr (3 μg/day) in addition to standard components (including FreAmine III). At age 8 yr, 8 months, the serum Cr level was elevated: 3.7 ng/ml (normal 0.03–0.85). A repeat level at the same time by another commercial laboratory was also high (7.0). Cr supplementation was stopped. At age 10 yr, he was noted to have mild peripheral neuropathy although glucose tolerance was excellent (α‐linolenic acid was undetectable in the plasma). Cr status was reevaluated in a research lab. The serum level was 1.4 ng/ml (normal 0.05–0.4). The urine chromium excretion was 1.27 μg/day (normal 0.22). The TPN regimen (unsupplemented with Cr) provided 4 μg/day. Normal Cr intake is about 60 μg/day with 0.4% absorption (net 0.24 μg/day). We conclude that Cr contamination of standard PN fluid may prevent biochemical evidence of low Cr status. In addition, α‐linolenic acid‐free parenteral nutrition for 46 months was not associated with clinically significant neurological dysfunction. ( Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 10:662–664, 1986)