Abstract
In infants on intravenous (I.V.) alimentation with glucose and amino acid (GL/AA), PLP lipids reflect endogenous fat synthesis and metabolism. We determined the composition of PLP (mg lipid/dl; M±SE) after 5.4±0.4 days of I.V. alimentation with GL/AA in 28 full term (F) appropriate for gestational age (AGA; Gest.age 39.5±0.2 wks) and 17 preterm (P) AGA infants (Gest.age 34.4±1.0 wks). We have found that, in plasma very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) of the P infant there was a marked reduction of total lipids (TL), triglycerides (TG) esterified (CE) and free cholesterol (CH), but not of phospholipids (PL).
Levels of chylomicrons (CHYLO) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) were similar. High density lipoproteins (HDL) were increased in P (85.9±9.1 vs. 6375±8.9*) and carried more PL (42.2±5.9 vs. 24.9±4.4*). The HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio was significantly higner in the preterm, than in the fullterm infant (0.55±0.04 vs. 0.28±0.03*)
Conclusions: PLP profile reflects significant metabolic differences between F and P infants such as: 1) endogenous synthesis of TG, CE and CH and their secretion as VLDL by the liver is reduced in P infants, possibly due to immaturity of the synthetic pathways and/or low substrate availability. 2) in contrast, synthesis of PL appears to be increased in prematurity, possibly in order to meet the high PL requirement for membrane and surfactant synthesis during this vulnerable period of human development. 3) in the P infant HDL seems to be a major vehicle for CH and PL transport to the peripheral tissues.
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Koletzko, B., Maragi, T., White, H. et al. IMMATURITY ALTERS THE ENDOGENOUS LIPID LEVELS IN PLASMA LIPOPROTEINS (PLP) OF NEWBORN INFANTS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 216 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00301
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00301