The effect of nutritional habits on maternal-neonatal lipid and lipoprotein serum levels in three different ethnic groups.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of nutritional habits on lipid profiles in mothers of three different ethnic groups and in their newborns.


METHODS
Lipids and lipoproteins were determined in 7-day dietetic diaries of 9,134 mothers (Greeks n = 3,118, Albanians n = 3,050, Muslim Asians n = 2,966), in their sera and in the cord blood of their newborns with routine methods.


RESULTS
Monounsaturated fat intake (35 +/- 12 g/day) was similar among the groups. Total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol intakes were significantly lower in Asians than those in Albanians and Greeks. Significantly lower lipid and lipoprotein concentrations (cholesterol 5.09 +/- 0.85 mmol/l, triglyceride, TG, 2.38 +/- 0.58 mmol/l, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C, 2.90 +/- 0.78 mmol/l, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, VLDL-C, 0.32 +/- 0.11 mmol/l) were measured in the Muslim Asian mothers and in their newborns (cholesterol 1.06 +/- 0.26 mmol/l, TG 0.52 +/- 0.16 mmol/l, LDL-C 0.49 +/- 0.10 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.10 +/- 0.02 mmol/l; p < 0.001). Higher levels of the mentioned biochemical parameters were found in Greek mothers versus their newborns (cholesterol 5.20 +/- 0.98 mmol/l, TG 2.37 +/- 0.62 mmol/l, LDL-C 3.40 +/- 0.85 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.48 +/- 0.13 mmol/l vs. cholesterol 1.55 +/- 0.31 mmol/l, TG 0.56 +/- 0.20 mmol/l, LDL-C 0.65 +/- 0.15 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.12 +/- 0.01 mmol/l; p < 0.001) and Albanian mothers versus their newborns (cholesterol 7.1 +/- 0.78 mmol/l, TG 2.55 +/- 0.60 mmol/l, LDL-C 4.1 +/- 0.88 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.52 +/- 0.13 mmol/l vs. cholesterol 1.6 +/- 0.40 mmol/l, TG 0.59 +/- 0.15 mmol/l, LDL-C 0.70 +/- 0.21 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.12 +/- 0.01 mmol/l; p < 0.001). The highest HDL-C levels were observed in the Asian mothers (1.60 +/- 0.31 mmol/l vs. 1.4 +/- 0.39 mmol/l in Greeks and 1.31 +/- 0.39 mmol/l in Albanians; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The normal lipid profile in Greeks, the high one in Albanians and the low profile in Muslim Asians may be due to their nutritional habits and their socioeconomic status affecting those of their newborns.
Schulpis
Kleopatra H
KH
Institute of Child Health, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Gavrili
Stavroula
S
Vlachos
George
G
Karikas
George A
GA
Michalakakou
Kelly
K
Demetriou
Elisabeth
E
Papassotiriou
Ioannis
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005006:Ethnicity; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009035:Mothers; D012923:Social Class; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol