LIPID-LEVELS IN THE CORD-BLOOD OF NEONATES, AND IN THEIR MOTHERS BLOOD

Abnormal levels of lipids and lipoproteins as risk factors for coronar y heart disease have been well established by epidemiological studies. We now provide a preliminary report on total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholest erol and triglycerides in the cord blood of newborns and their mothers . As lipid levels stabilise by the second decade of life, we studied a dults aged 20-25 years for a comparison with cord levels. Similarly, a s pregnancy induces hyperlipidaemia, we compared lipid levels in contr ol women who were not pregnant with those of the mothers. The results show low levels of serum lipids at birth, as expected, and no variatio n with sex. The young adults had markedly higher lipid levels as compa red to those in cord sera. Low birth weight neonates had 50% lower tri glyceride levels as compared to normal birth weight neonates. Neonates of blood group A showed a trend towards higher mean levels of serum t otal cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol while those of blood group O had higher mean levels of triglycerides as compared to neonates of blood g roup A. The serum lipid levels of the mothers of the neonates were hig her than those in non-pregnant control women.