In our group of over 50 patients, both diabetic and nondiabetic, transient hypotriglyceridemia was observed in the early postoperative period. To elucidate the mechanism of decrease in plasma triglycerides level, postheparin lipolytic activities (PHLA) were investigated, and we found that there was no difference between preoperative and postoperative PHLA. Our results suggest that the release or biosynthesis of endogenous triglycerides from liver decreases.
No elevation of free fatty acids (FFA) was observed even under low calorie intravenous nutrition. Therefore, it can be assumed that increase in liberation of FFA from adipose tissue as a response to surgical stress was prevented by the continuous administration of glucose as much as 140g per day.