Final answer:
Commercially available intravenous fat emulsions (IVFEs) used in the provision of parenteral nutrition (PN) in the United States are mainly composed of soybean oils. These IVFEs are similar to milk or mayonnaise, which are emulsions of fat in water stabilized by emulsifying agents. Fats can come from animal and plant sources, and the American diet is rich in omega-6 fatty acids from corn and soybean oil.
Step-by-step explanation:
The provision of parenteral nutrition (PN) involves the use of intravenous fat emulsions (IVFEs) in the United States. These IVFEs are commercially available and are mainly composed of soybean oils. These oils are a source of polyunsaturated fats and are commonly used in food preparation, including the production of IVFEs.
Fats and vegetable oils are esters of long-chain fatty acids and glycerol. IVFEs are emulsions of fat in water, similar to milk or mayonnaise. They are stabilized by emulsifying agents such as lecithins present in egg yolk or in the case of IVFEs, phospholipids and bile salts in the duodenum.
It is important to note that fats can come from both animal and plant sources. Animal fats include meat, whole milk, lard, butter, and cheese, while vegetable oils come from plant sources like soybeans and peanuts. In the American diet, sources of omega-6 fatty acids from corn and soybean oil are more common, while sources of omega-3 fatty acids are less prevalent.