Low-density lipoprotein profile changes during the neonatal period

• Published in: Journal of Perinatology Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 335 - 340
• Main Authors: Fujita, H, Okada, T, Inami, I, Makimoto, M, Hosono, S, Minato, M, Takahashi, S, Mugishima, H, Yamamoto, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01-05-2008; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Age Factors; Apolipoprotein B; Apolipoproteins; Apolipoproteins B - blood; Birth Weight; Bottle Feeding; Breast; Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Composition; Density; Female; Gestational Age; Health aspects; Health care; High density lipoprotein; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn - blood; Infants; Japan; Lipid composition; Lipids; Lipoproteins; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Low density lipoprotein; Low density lipoproteins; Male; Measurement; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neonates; Newborn babies; original-article; Particle size; Pediatric Surgery; Pediatrics; Physiological aspects; Reference Values; Regression analysis; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; Japan; postnatal change; LDL particle size; gestational age; lipid composition; formula-feeding
• ISSN: 0743-8346; 1476-5543
• DOI: 10.1038/jp.2008.8

Objective:
To investigate natural change of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) profile during the neonatal period and the impact of gestational age and birth weight on those changes.
Study Design:
We measured lipid composition in LDL fraction, LDL particle size and apolipoprotein B (apoB) concentration at birth, 5 days of age and 1 month of age in 63 healthy neonates that had 37 to 41-week gestational age.
Result:
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apoB concentrations increased from birth to 5 days of age, and the concentration persisted at 1 month in breast-fed and mixed-fed infants. However, in formula-fed infants, the concentration decreased at 1 month. At 5 days of age, neonates had larger and more triglyceride (TG)-rich LDL particles than at birth. At 1 month of age, LDL particles were smaller and more cholesterol rich than at 5 days of age. Single regression analyses showed that gestational age had influenced the LDL profile at birth and 5 days of age, while at 1 month milk determined the profile.
Conclusion:
The number of LDL particles increased rapidly during the first 5 days of life, and the composition of LDL particles is modulated by TG content throughout the neonatal period. Gestational age and milk, rather than birth weight, determine postnatal changes in LDL profile.