A method for the use of short chain fatty acids containing lipids in clinical nutrition to maintain gastrointestinal integrity and function in conditions where normal short chain fatty acid substrates, provided by bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates, is inadequate due to the clinical condition of the patient. By providing the short chain fatty acid in a lipid form of free fatty acid, triglyceride, diglyceride, monoglyceride, phospholipid, or cholesterol ester one is able to avoid the clinical defect and allow the gastrointestinal tract to continue to maintain its integrity and function. The short chain fatty acids of the present invention can be provided either in enteral preparations or parenteral preparations.The short chain fatty acids can be provided by hydrolysis of a structure such as: ##STR1## wherein R--COO--, R'--COO--, and R"--COO-- represent either the same or different short chain fatty acids.