Cord blood lipids and lipoproteins in small-, appropriate-, and large-for-gestational age neonates born to non-diabetic mothers

Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate lipids and lipoproteins in small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns and compare these data with those obtained from appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) and large-for-gestational age (LGA) neonates. Methods: Umbilical cord blood was salvaged immediately after birth in 151 newborns born after completion of the 37th week of gestation, Of these, 56 newborns had normal weight (AGA), 45 were LCA, and 50 were SGA, Cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol, HDL3 cholesterol, HDL triglycerides, HDL2 triglycerides, HDL3 triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1, and plasma insulin concentration were determined. Results: Plasma triglycerides and HDL triglycerides were higher in SGA newborns, and HDL cholesterol and serum insulin were lower in SGA neonates than in normal and LGA neonates. Cholesterol and LDL choleslerol levels showed 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 insulin is reduced in fetal plasma, insulin-dependent activation of lipoprotein lipase is also reduced, hampering efficient lipolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Thus insulin and its effect on lipid metabolism could play a major role in intrauterine growth.