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Lipoprotein subclass profiles in young adults born preterm at very low birth weight

Petteri Hovi1, Eero Kajantie, Pasi Soininen

  • 1Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, PO Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland.

Lipids in Health and Disease
|May 2, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Adults born very low birth weight (VLBW) show altered triglyceride levels in VLDL and HDL subclasses, suggesting impaired metabolism contributes to their higher cardiovascular disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Metabolic Health
  • Neonatal Research

Background:

  • Adults born very low birth weight (VLBW) face elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks, including hypertension and impaired glucose regulation.
  • Non-optimal lipoprotein profiles are implicated in increased CVD risk, but data on VLBW adults are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate lipoprotein subclass profiles in young adults born at very low birth weight (VLBW).
  • To compare lipid and triglyceride concentrations in lipoprotein subclasses between VLBW adults and term-born controls.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 162 VLBW individuals and 169 term-born controls (ages 19-27).
  • Measured total lipid, triglyceride, and cholesterol in 14 lipoprotein subclasses using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
  • Analyzed fasting and post-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) serum samples.

Main Results:

  • VLBW subjects had higher fasting triglyceride concentrations in chylomicrons and largest very-low-density lipoprotein (XXL-VLDL-TG) particles.
  • VLBW subjects also showed higher fasting triglyceride concentrations in small high-density lipoprotein (S-HDL-TG) particles.
  • Principal component analysis highlighted the role of triglycerides in differentiating VLBW individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Young adults born at VLBW exhibit triglyceride differences in VLDL and HDL subclasses compared to term-born peers.
  • These metabolic alterations suggest impaired triglyceride metabolism may contribute to the heightened cardiovascular disease risk in VLBW adults.
Abstract

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