Serum Lipid Profile in Preterm and Term Appropriate for Gestational Age Indian Newborns: A Hospital Based Comparative Study

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a common cause of death in developed countries and also is a rising trend in developing countries. Aim: The objective of this study was to compare lipid profile and atherogenic indices in term and preterm neonates. Methods: A total of 60 neonates were selected which were grouped on the basis of gestational age and birth weight. Umbilical venous blood was collected from them. Lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides), apolipoproteins (apo B and apo A-I) and atherogenic index were evaluated and compared. Studentt test (unpaired) was applied to test the significance. Results: Mean serum cholesterol and LDL was significantly high in preterm .Mean TC / LDL ratio of preterm group 3.17, term 2.64 (p< 0.006).Mean Apolipoprotein A-1 in preterm 78.37 mg/dl, term 76.51 mg/dl (P<0.67). Mean apolipoprotein B / A-1 ratio in preterm 0.45, term 0.39, (p<0.11) showing worse profile in preterm. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate a trend towards worse lipid profile in preterm SGA new-borns. There is a need to investigate if this atherogenic lipid profile is a marker for future cardiovascular diseases.