CORD-BLOOD LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS IN SMALL-FOR-GESTATIONAL, APPROPRIATE-FOR-GESTATIONAL, AND LARGE-FOR-GESTATIONAL AGE NEONATES BORN TO NONDIABETIC MOTHERS

Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate lipi ds and lipoproteins in small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns and co mpare these data with those obtained from appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) and large-for-gestational age (LGA) neonates. Methods: Umbil ical cord blood was salvaged immediately after birth in 151 newborns b orn after completion of the 37th week of gestation, Of these, 56 newbo rns had normal weight (AGA), 45 were LCA, and 50 were SGA, Cholesterol , triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high densi ty lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol, HDL3 cholesterol, HDL triglycerides, HDL2 triglycerides, HDL3 triglycerides, apolipoprot ein A1, and plasma insulin concentration were determined. Results: Pla sma triglycerides and HDL triglycerides were higher in SGA newborns, a nd HDL cholesterol and serum insulin were lower in SGA neonates than i n normal and LGA neonates. Cholesterol and LDL choleslerol levels show ed no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: Our results show that triglycerides are significantly higher in SGA newborns. In these same infants, serum insulin is significantly reduced. When insul in is reduced in fetal plasma, insulin-dependent activation of lipopro tein lipase is also reduced, hampering efficient lipolysis of triglyce ride-rich lipoproteins. Thus insulin and its effect on lipid metabolis m could play a major role in intrauterine growth.