Serum lipids in preterm infants fed a formula supplemented with nucleotides.
BACKGROUND
The effect of dietary nucleotides on lipid metabolism has been the subject of clinical studies with conflicting results. We measured serum triglycerides, total cholesterol (total-C), and lipoprotein cholesterol levels (HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C) in preterm neonates fed formula with and without nucleotide supplements.


METHODS
This prospective, randomized, controlled study included 150 healthy preterm neonates (gestational age, 33.0 +/- 1.9 weeks) matched for gestational age, birth weight, and gender. Subjects were assigned at birth to receive either a standard milk formula supplemented with nucleotides (group F-NT) or the same formula without nucleotides (group F). Serum was obtained before discharge (29.1 +/- 10.0 days of life) and triglycerides, total-C, and HDL-C were determined enzymatically. LDL-C and VLDL-C were estimated by the Friedewald formula. For statistical analysis t test, Mann Whitney-U test, two-way ANOVA, and chi2 test were used, as appropriate. The influence of several factors on serum lipid levels was evaluated by linear regression analysis.


RESULTS
Serum triglycerides, total-C, and VLDL-C levels did not differ between groups. HDL-C levels (median; 25th-75th percentiles) were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in group F-NT (48.0 mg/dL; 40.5-57.0 mg/dL) than in group F (34.5 mg/dL; 27.2-44.0 mg/dL). On the contrary, LDL-C levels (median; 25th-75th percentiles) were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in group F-NT (39.0 mg/dL; 26.0-54.0 mg/dL) than in group F (65.0 mg/dL; 41.0-73.0 mg/dL). In the multiple regression analysis, nucleotide supplementation was identified as one of the controlled independent factors influencing serum HDL-C and LDL-C levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Preterm neonates fed from birth with formula supplemented with nucleotides have significantly higher HDL-C and lower LDL-C serum levels than do neonates fed unsupplemented formula. The clinical relevance of these results remains to be elucidated.
Siahanidou
Tania
T
Neonatal Unit, A' Department of Pediatrics, Athens University, Greece. siahanidou@hotmail.com
Mandyla
Helen
H
Papassotiriou
Ioannis
I
Anagnostakis
Dimitris
D
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D009711:Nucleotides; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol