Influence of dietary factors on the plasma lipoprotein composition and content in neonates

Previous studies have shown that the cholesterol and apoprotein concentrations in newborn plasma are dependent on the degree of saturation (polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio) of the dietary fats. In the present study we compare the influence on the lipoprotein patterns of breast-feeding and of two adapted formulae with a similar P/S ratio in 30 infants. The lipoprotein distribution and composition were investigated by density-gradient ultracentrifugation at days 0, 7 and 30. The lipoprotein patterns were quite comparable at 0 and 7 days in the three groups. We found low VLDL and LDL and relatively elevated HDL concentrations with a high percentage of HDL2. A significant increase of both VLDL and LDL was observed between 0 and 7 days. The VLDL concentration in the breast-fed infants subsequently decreased between 7 and 30 days to a value close to that measured at birth. The infants receiving an adapted formula had significantly higher VLDL and lower LDL at 30 days compared to breast-fed children. HDL concentrations were not significantly different whereas the HDL2 percentage was significantly lower in the infants receiving the adapted formulae. These data further support the hypothesis that the lipoprotein patterns in infants are sensitive to the type of nutrition and that breast-feeding induces specific lipoprotein patterns compared to adapted milk formulae.