Triglyceride, total cholesterol, phospholipid, HDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were studied in 22 eutrophic, 16 true premature and 22 small-for-gestational age neonates in cord blood and on the 6th postnatal day. According to the findings the lipid-lipoprotein metabolism was influenced primarily by gestational age. Parallel with increasing gestational age, phospholipid and triglyceride concentrations rose whereas cholesterol values decreased. Postnatal changes of lipid-lipoprotein metabolism developed more slowly in premature than in mature newborns. The effects of intrauterine malnutrition manifested themselves mainly in differences of the triglyceride and phospholipid levels.