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Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
13:13

Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia

Published on: August 24, 2011

Correlation between unconjugated bilirubin and total cholesterol in the sera of 1-month-old infants

Yoshiro Nagao1, Maki Ohsawa, Tomoka Kobayashi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Social Health Insurance Medical Center, Hyakunincho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. yn-nagao@pro.odn.ne.jp

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|September 10, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Breastfed infants may experience prolonged jaundice due to higher plasma total cholesterol (TC), not feeding method alone. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and elevated TC are linked to this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Breastfed infants often exhibit prolonged jaundice compared to formula-fed infants.
  • The underlying causes for this difference require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the relationship between feeding methods and prolonged jaundice in infants.
  • To identify biochemical factors associated with prolonged jaundice in breastfed infants.

Main Methods:

  • Serum unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured in 102 infants (1 month old).
  • Infants were categorized into breastfed, mixed-fed, and bottle-fed groups.
  • Statistical analyses examined correlations between UCB, TC, TG, and perinatal/post-natal factors.

Main Results:

  • UCB showed significant correlation with peak neonatal transcutaneous bilirubin (TcBn) and serum TC.
  • Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed no significant effect of feeding method on UCB when controlling for TcBn.
  • However, TC levels significantly impacted UCB, particularly when categorized into higher (>150 mg/dL) and lower (≤150 mg/dL) groups.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and elevated plasma total cholesterol are associated with prolonged jaundice in infants.
  • Higher TC levels, rather than feeding method alone, may contribute to prolonged jaundice.
Abstract

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