Lipid profile and atherogenic indices soon after birth in Japanese preterm infants

Aim: The intra-uterine environment affects the risk of development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of prematurity and foetal growth restriction on lipid metabolism, by assessing atherogenic indices soon after birth in preterm infants.

Methods: Blood samples were collected within 20 min of birth from 80 preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤35 weeks. Serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), apolipoprotein-A1 (apoA1) and apolipoprotein-B (apoB) levels were measured. The ratio of TC/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc and apoB/apoA1 were also calculated. Correlations between these indices and gestational age, birth weight and the standard deviation (SD) score for birth weight were also determined.

Results: Gestational age, birth weight and SD score for birth weight were negatively correlated with the TC/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc and apoB/apoA1 ratios.

Conclusion: In preterm infants, prematurity and poor foetal growth may influence lipid and apolipoprotein metabolism and affect atherogenic indices at birth.