The Effect of Nutritional Habits on Maternal-Neonatal Lipid and Lipoprotein Serum Levels in Three Different Ethnic Groups

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of nutritional habits on lipid profiles in mothers of three different ethnic groups and in their newborns. Subjects and Methods: Lipids and lipoproteins were determined in 7-day dietetic diaries of 9,134 mothers (Greeks n = 3,118, Albanians n = 3,050, Muslim Asians n = 2,966), in their sera and in the cord blood of their newborns with routine methods. Results: Monounsaturated fat intake (35 ± 12 g/day) was similar among the groups. Total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol intakes were significantly lower in Asians than those in Albanians and Greeks. Significantly lower lipid and lipoprotein concentrations (cholesterol 5.09 ± 0.85 mmol/l, triglyceride, TG, 2.38 ± 0.58 mmol/l, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C, 2.90 ± 0.78 mmol/l, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, VLDL-C, 0.32 ± 0.11 mmol/l) were measured in the Muslim Asian mothers and in their newborns (cholesterol 1.06 ± 0.26 mmol/l, TG 0.52 ± 0.16 mmol/l, LDL-C 0.49 ± 0.10 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.10 ± 0.02 mmol/l; p < 0.001). Higher levels of the mentioned biochemical parameters were found in Greek mothers versus their newborns (cholesterol 5.20 ± 0.98 mmol/l, TG 2.37 ± 0.62 mmol/l, LDL-C 3.40 ± 0.85 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.48 ± 0.13 mmol/l vs. cholesterol 1.55 ± 0.31 mmol/l, TG 0.56 ± 0.20 mmol/l, LDL-C 0.65 ± 0.15 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.12 ± 0.01 mmol/l; p < 0.001) and Albanian mothers versus their newborns (cholesterol 7.1 ± 0.78 mmol/l, TG 2.55 ± 0.60 mmol/l, LDL-C 4.1 ± 0.88 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.52 ± 0.13 mmol/l vs. cholesterol 1.6 ± 0.40 mmol/l, TG 0.59 ± 0.15 mmol/l, LDL-C 0.70 ± 0.21 mmol/l and VLDL-C 0.12 ± 0.01 mmol/l; p < 0.001). The highest HDL-C levels were observed in the Asian mothers (1.60 ± 0.31 mmol/l vs. 1.4 ± 0.39 mmol/l in Greeks and 1.31 ± 0.39 mmol/l in Albanians; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The normal lipid profile in Greeks, the high one in Albanians and the low profile in Muslim Asians may be due to their nutritional habits and their socioeconomic status affecting those of their newborns.

Maternal‐neonatal 8‐hydroxy‐deoxyguanosine serum concentrations as an index of DNA oxidation in association with the mode of labour and delivery

“…In a very recent study, it was reported that umbilical arterial lipids are more susceptible to peroxidation than umbilical venous lipids, indicating high oxidative stress in the fetal circulation irrespective of the mode of delivery (28). In this study, the absence of serious TAS reduction in the blood of the neonates, which also indicates the peroxidation of lipids, may be due to the presence of low levels of lipids, and, especially, to the very low LDL levels in the CB of the infants (36, 37), and/or the placenta protective effect against oxidative stress (4).…”

Maternal–neonatal serum paraoxonase 1 activity in relation to the mode of delivery

“…In a very recent study, it was reported that umbilical arterial lipids are more susceptible to peroxidation than umbilical venous lipids, indicating high oxidative stress in the fetal circulation irrespective of mode of delivery [40]. In this study, the absence of a very low TAS level in the blood of the neonates may be also due to the presence of low levels of lipids and especially to the very low LDL levels in the cord blood of the infants [41,42]. This finding is for first time reported in the literature but it needs further elucidation with a more specific method for lipid peroxidation evaluation such as electron spin resonance (ESR) [43].…”

Systematic review and meta-analysis of energy and macronutrient intakes during pregnancy in developed countries

“…The study flow is summarized in Figure 1. Data were extracted from 90 studies ( n = 126,242), 17–19,30,38,39,45–105 with 23 studies containing multiple dietary intake assessment points during pregnancy ( n = 4,985) 11,12,33–37,40,106–120 . The countries represented by geographical region are the USA (26 studies, n = 12,765)/Canada (5 studies, n = 143), UK (19 studies, n = 15,653), Europe (27 studies, n = 93,395), Australia (5 studies, n = 2,557)/NZ (2 studies, n = 291), and Japan (6 studies, n = 1,438).…”