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Longitudinal changes of serum lipid and apoB levels in a newborn-infant cohort
Insights
Serum apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels and lipid profiles in infants show significant increases from birth to 6 months. Persistent apoB levels from 6 months onward may have implications for future coronary artery disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Infant lipid metabolism and apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels are crucial for understanding early cardiovascular health.
- Longitudinal data on serum apoB and lipid profiles in early childhood are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine longitudinal changes in serum apoB and lipid levels from birth to 3 years of age in an infant cohort.
- To investigate the relationship between serum apoB and beta + pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol during early development.
Main Methods:
- A subset of 30 infants from the Bogalusa cohort (born 1974-1975) had serum lipids and apoB measured at birth, 6 months, 1, 2, and 3 years.
- Statistical analysis was performed to assess changes and correlations over time.
Main Results:
- Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, beta + pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol, and apoB levels significantly increased from birth to 6 months (p < 0.0005).
- The ratio of apoB to beta + pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol was higher at birth than at 6 months (p < 0.0005).
- A high year-to-year correlation for serum apoB was observed from 6 months onward (r = 0.67, p < 0.0001), with interindividual variability in apoB relative to cholesterol.
Conclusions:
- Serum apoB and lipid levels undergo substantial changes in the first 6 months of life.
- Persistent apoB levels and emerging interindividual differences in cholesterol transport by apoB in infancy may have long-term clinical implications for coronary artery disease risk.
Abstract:
Longitudinal changes in serum apoB levels in relation to serum lipid levels were determined in a subset (n = 30) of a newborn-infant cohort selected from infants (n = 440) of Bogalusa, Louisiana who were born between January 1, 1974 and June 30, 1975. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, beta + pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol and apoB levels were measured at birth, 6 mo, 1 yr, 2 yr, and 3 yr of age. The mean +/- SD, mg/dl, levels of these variables increased dramatically (p less than 0.0005) from birth to 6 mo (Total cholesterol: 65.0 +/- 15.7 versus 136.3 +/- 27.4; triglycerides: 32.9 +/- 18.9 versus 82.3 +/- 28.9; beta + pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol: 31.8 +/- 9.1 versus 87.3 +/- 25.7; apoB: 20.8 +/- 5.3 versus 49.0 +/- 13.5). On the other hand, the ratio of apoB to beta + pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol at birth was significantly higher than at 6 months of age (0.69 +/- 0.24 versus 0.58 +/- 0.12, p less than 0.0005). None of the variables changed significantly between 6 mo and 3 yr of age except the increase in serum total cholesterol level from yr 2 to yr 3 (142.6 +/- 26.6 versus 156.4 +/- 23,0, p less than 0.01). A high intra-child year to year correlation for serum apoB was noted beginning at 6 mo of age (r = 0.67, p less than 0.0001); while the apoB levels were proportional to beta + pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol levels in some children, others had varied levels of apoB in relation to cholesterol carried by this apoprotein. The fact that apoB levels persist beginning at 6 mo of age and that we are beginning to observe interindividual differences in levels of cholesterol carried by this apoprotein may have clinical implications for coronary artery disease.