Characterization of chylomicron in preterm infants

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the chylomicron fraction of preterm infants at birth and during the early postnatal period. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 133 infants (81 boys and 52 girls): 74 were term infants born at 37-41 weeks of gestation and 59 were preterm infants born at 29-36 weeks of gestation. Cholesterol and triglyceride in the chylomicron fraction were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Compared with term infants, preterm infants had higher cholesterol and lower triglyceride in the chylomicron fraction, both in cord blood and at 1 month after birth. Thus, the chylomicron triglyceride/cholesterol ratio was significantly lower in preterm infants than in term infants in cord blood and at 1 month of age. On single regression analysis the chylomicron triglyceride/cholesterol ratio correlated positively with gestational age at birth (r = 0.331, P = 0.0003) and at 1 month (r = 0.221, P = 0.0119). CONCLUSIONS: Preterm infants have a less-lipidated chylomicron composition at birth and at 1 month of age. Some prenatal factors may persist to influence chylomicron lipidation during the early postnatal period.