Atherogenic lipid profile of Brazilian near-term newborns.
Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in Brazil. Recent studies have shown that low birth weight and preterm birth are linked to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of lipids and apolipoproteins and atherogenic indexes between term and near-term newborn infants. A sample of umbilical cord blood was obtained from 135 newborns (66 males) divided into two groups: 25 near-term neonates (35-36.6 weeks of gestational age) and 110 term neonates (37-42 weeks of gestational age). The total cholesterol concentrations were higher in the near-term neonates than in the term group (94.04 +/- 8.02 vs 70.42 +/- 1.63 mg/dl, P < 0.01), due to an increase in the LDL-cholesterol fraction in the near-term group (57.76 +/- 6.39 vs 34.38 +/- 1.29 mg/dl, P < 0.001). The atherogenic indexes (total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I) were higher in the near-term group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.05, respectively). The gestational age of the newborns was inversely correlated with total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and also with the total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol indexes. These findings demonstrate that the lipid profile is worse in the group of near-term neonates compared with the term group. Future studies are needed to determine if this atherogenic profile in near-term neonates can affect body metabolism, increasing the risk for cardiovascular diseases in adult life.
Pardo
I M C G
IM
Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brasil. doctorpardo@hotmail.com
Geloneze
B
B
Tambascia
M A
MA
Barros-Filho
A A
AA
D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol