Low birth weight at term impairs cord serum lipoprotein compositions and concentrations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of low birth weight at term on serum lipoproteins. Lipid and apolipoprotein (apo) contents were investigated in cord sera of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns at term (2290 g +/- 33 g) and compared with those of appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) newborns (3570 g +/- 93 g). In SGA newborns, VLDL amounts were twofold higher, whereas LDL, HDL2 and HDL3 contents were lower than in AGA newborns (-38%, -44% and -42%, respectively). VLDL-triacylglycerols (TG), apo B-100 and apo E were higher, while VLDL-apo C-II values were 39% lower in SGA newborns compared with those of AGA newborns. In SGA newborns, HDL2-apolipoprotein, phospholip…