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Plasma apolipoprotein and lipid profiles in infants in the first year of life
Insights
Infant lipid profiles and apolipoproteins (apo) showed similar changes in breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Premature infants had lower levels than mature infants, but lipoprotein composition remained stable in the first year of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Infant nutrition significantly impacts lipid metabolism and apolipoprotein profiles.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for assessing long-term cardiovascular health.
- Premature infants present unique challenges in nutrient absorption and metabolic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare apolipoprotein and lipid profiles in breast-fed vs. formula-fed infants.
- To investigate differences between mature and premature infants during the first year of life.
- To assess the impact of nutritional status on lipoprotein composition in early development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of five apolipoproteins (apo A-I, A-II, B, C-II, C-III) and lipid profiles (triglycerides, total cholesterol).
- Study included breast-fed mature (BM), breast-fed premature (BP), formula-fed mature (FM), and formula-fed premature (FP) infants.
- Measurements were taken during the first year of life, with specific attention to the neonatal period and 12 months.
Main Results:
- Apolipoprotein levels (except apo A-II) and lipid profiles increased in all infant groups post-birth, stabilizing by 4 weeks.
- Premature infants consistently showed lower apolipoprotein and lipid levels than mature infants, particularly in the neonatal period.
- No significant differences in most apolipoprotein or lipid levels were observed between breast-fed and formula-fed infants, except for specific premature groups at 3 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Lipoprotein composition appears relatively stable in infants regardless of feeding method (breast milk vs. formula) during the first year.
- Premature infants exhibit distinct lipid and apolipoprotein profiles compared to mature infants, highlighting developmental differences.
- The observed changes suggest that infant lipoprotein metabolism adapts to nutritional conditions, maintaining overall composition integrity.
Abstract:
Five different apolipoproteins (apo) and lipid profiles were studied in breast-fed mature (BM), brest-fed premature (BP), formula-fed mature (FM) and formula-fed premature (FP) infants in the first year of life. The plasma apo A-1, B, C-II and C-III levels in all groups of infants increased rapidly after birth until 4 weeks of age, and then became stable. On the other hand, apo A-II levels did not change markedly in any of the groups of infants during the neonatal period, but there was a gradual increase in mature infants thereafter. At 12 months of age, apo A-I, A-II and B remained significantly lower than in adults. There were no significant differences in any of the apolipoprotein levels between BM and FM infants or between BP and FP infants except for apo A-I and C-III of premature infants at 3 weeks of age. When premature and mature infants were compared, premature infants showed lower apolipoprotein levels except for apo A-II, and the differences were especially prominent in the neonatal period. Plasma triglyceride levels rapidly increased in the neonatal period and were stable thereafter. Whereas plasma total cholesterol levels increased gradually until one year of age. There were no differences between breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Both triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in premature infants were lower than those in mature infants during the neonatal period. Thus, the proportional change in plasma lipids and apolipoprotein levels during this study period may indicate that lipoprotein composition is not markedly deteriorated even in different nutritional condition in the first year of life.