Increased oxidants and reduced antioxidants in irradiated parenteral nutrition solutions may contribute to the inflammatory response.

Background/objectives: To measure reactive oxidant production and the decline in antioxidant potential in commercially available, irradiated parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions and the effect that these have on oxidant production in patients in the intensive care unit.

Subjects And Methods: Vitamin E and malondialdehyde in irradiated and nonirradiated commercially available, PN solutions were measured. The PBN (alpha-phenyl-n-test-butylnitrone (PBN) spin trap was used to measure free radicals and TEMPOL (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxy-piperidine-oxyl) was used to assess antioxidant capacity.