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Changes in the serum lipids and apolipoproteins in the first four weeks of life
Insights
Neonatal lipid transport differs slightly between breast-fed and formula-fed infants, with formula-fed infants showing higher triglycerides initially. Dietary fatty acid composition significantly impacts lipid profiles in both groups.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Lipid metabolism
- Nutritional science
Background:
- The neonatal period is critical for establishing metabolic systems.
- Infant feeding methods significantly influence early development.
- Understanding lipid transport is key to infant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of oral feeding (breast milk vs. formula) on neonatal serum lipid transport.
- To compare lipid and apolipoprotein levels in breast-fed and formula-fed infants during the first month of life.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples collected from newborn infants at birth, 3, 14, and 28 days.
- Lipid and apolipoprotein levels measured using gas-liquid chromatography and electroimmunoassay.
- Dietary fatty acid analysis of breast milk and formula.
Main Results:
- Formula-fed infants had significantly higher triacylglycerols at 3 days.
- Cholesterol esters were higher in breast-fed infants at 14 and 28 days.
- Dietary fatty acid differences were reflected in molecular lipid forms.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal lipid transport shows minor differences based on feeding type, primarily in early triglyceride levels.
- Breast milk and formula result in distinct lipid profiles due to fatty acid composition.
- Further research into long-term implications is warranted.
Abstract:
The neonatal serum lipid transport system was monitored in the 1st month of life to determine the impact of oral feeding (breast versus formula). Lipid and apolipoprotein levels were measured in the serum of normal newborn infants collected at birth, 3, 14, and 28 days of age. Fatty acid and neutral lipid studies were determined by gas-liquid chromatography and apolipoprotein levels were done by electroimmunoassay. Following collection of data, the results were divided into two groups corresponding to breast-fed (BF) or formula-fed (FF) infants. Only triacylglycerols at 3 days of age were significantly higher (p less than 0.04) in FF infant serum when compared to BF levels. Unesterified cholesterol levels in both groups were similar at all intervals, the cholesterol esters were higher at 14 and 28 days in BF infants. ApoA-I and ApoB levels were higher at 3 days in FF, but ApoC-III levels were the same. At all other sampling times, no discernible differences in these parameters were found between BF and FF. For the infants as a group, changes in levels with increasing age were similar for both ApoA-I and cholesterol esters, as was the case for ApoB and triacylglycerols. However, numerous differences between BF and FF were seen in molecular forms of triacylglycerols and cholesterol esters, reflecting the dietary fatty acid differences between breast milk and formula. Analyses of the fatty acid content of these two diets demonstrated that human breast milk contained twice as much palmitic and oleic acid but only one-half the linoleic acid of formula.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)