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Background Parenteral nutrition (PN) is crucial for the improvement of long‐term outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. Lipid injectable emulsions are a key component of PN, as they contain essential fatty acids and provide energy critical for brain growth. Prolonged administration increases risk of intestinal failure‐associated liver disease, including cholestasis, and other complications. Methods This is a retrospective, quasi‐experimental cohort study of 215 VLBW neonates. The primary outcome was a change in direct bilirubin concentration. Secondary outcomes included change in total bilirubin concentration and incidences of cholestasis and other disease states associated with PN and prematurity. Cholestasis was defined as direct bilirubin ≥ 1.0 mg/dL with total bilirubin < 5.0 mg/dL or direct bilirubin > 20% of total bilirubin with total bilirubin > 5.0 mg/dL. Results Change in direct bilirubin concentration was not different between groups. Incidence of cholestasis was not different between groups per charted diagnosis or per study definition. Non‐stage‐0 retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis were all lower in the mixed oil lipid emulsion group, which remained significant after adjustment for differences in gestational age, birth weight, and PN duration. Conclusions Although mixed oil lipid emulsion was not found to be associated with a lower risk of cholestasis, it may decrease risks of other disease states associated with PN therapy.

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