Cord blood lipoprotein profile in term, preterm, and late preterm newborns

Area of Science:

• Neonatal lipid metabolism
• Cardiovascular disease risk factors in infancy

Background:

• Elevated triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and apolipoprotein B in preterm newborns may increase future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
• Investigating lipid profiles in Iranian infants of varying gestational ages is essential for early risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare cord blood lipid profiles, including cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoproteins, among term, late preterm, and preterm Iranian infants.
• To identify potential differences in lipid concentrations that may inform future cardiovascular health.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 99 newborns was divided into term (≥37 weeks), late preterm (34-37 weeks), and preterm (<34 weeks) groups.
• Analysis of total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A, and apolipoprotein B using an autoanalyzer.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in cord blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-C were observed across the gestational age groups (P < 0.05).
• Term infants exhibited the lowest triglyceride and cholesterol levels, while preterm infants had the lowest triglycerides and late preterm infants had the highest cholesterol.
• No significant differences were found in HDL-C or apolipoprotein levels among the groups.

Conclusions:

• Term infants demonstrated lower cord blood concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C compared to preterm and late preterm infants.
• These lipid profile differences in neonates warrant consideration for tailored infant nutrition and preventative healthcare strategies to mitigate long-term CVD risk.