The maternal-fetal gradient of free and esterified phytosterols at the time of delivery in humans

Effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on newborn cholesterol metabolism

“…The ratio of cord blood plant sterols correlated with the respective maternal serum plant sterol ratios potentially reflecting maternal-fetal cholesterol transport. In all newborns, the presence of methylsterols and 2e4 fold higher ratios of lanosterol, desmosterol, lathosterol, cholestenol and squalene to cholesterol in the cord blood, as compared to corresponding maternal serum ratios, suggest that all steps of cholesterol synthesis were increased at birth, a finding similar to previous studies [17,18].…”

“…Thus, it is not surprising that concentrations, or ratios of cholesterol precursors in the cord blood did not associate with the corresponding maternal serum levels. As the samples from the mother were not taken simultaneously with the cord blood, this might have influenced the results [7], but in a previous and only study exploring simultaneous correlations of maternal and cord blood sterols at birth, no such correlations were detected either [17]. In that respect, the finding that the ratios of sitosterol and campesterol to cholesterol correlated with the corresponding maternal ratios, is of interest, and a new observation in GDM pregnancies [17].…”

“…As the samples from the mother were not taken simultaneously with the cord blood, this might have influenced the results [7], but in a previous and only study exploring simultaneous correlations of maternal and cord blood sterols at birth, no such correlations were detected either [17]. In that respect, the finding that the ratios of sitosterol and campesterol to cholesterol correlated with the corresponding maternal ratios, is of interest, and a new observation in GDM pregnancies [17]. Although a low number of the GDM subjects is a limitation to our study, a similar correlation was previously observed in healthy pregnancies [17].…”

Serum non-cholesterol sterols and cholesterol metabolism in childhood and adolescence

“…Cholesterol is an essential lipid for the development, growth, and wellbeing of humans. In newborn children, cord blood cholesterol concentration is 1.5 mmol/l, on average [1][2][3][4]. During the first year of life, cholesterol concentration in serum increases to about 4-5 mmol/l [5], a level that remains throughout the childhood [6].…”

“…The growth and development in childhood and adolescence question the whole-body cholesterol metabolism, which may vary between different ages. To our knowledge, there is only a limited number of studies on limited age periods dealing with cholesterol metabolism in healthy children and adolescents [1][2][3][4][12][13][14], and there are no studies reaching all age groups from newborn to adolescence. Thus, there is no information on whether the metabolic profile of cholesterol differs between age groups or gender in children and adolescents.…”