RESUMO
Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, lipoproteins [alpha, pre-beta, and beta] and apolipoproteins [A-1, B, C-111 and E] were investigated in 20 normal newborn infants at birth [cord blood] and 4 days after labour. For comparative purposes 20 samples from healthy adult male and female subjects were also analysed. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were significantly low in cord blood samples as compared to adult levels. Those concentrations observed at birth had increased so much during the first 4 days of life that they had practically reached adult values. With exception of apo-E, all serum apolipoproteins examined in cord blood samples were also significantly low as compared to adult levels. The increase observed in their concentrations -specially apo-B- 4 days after labour, was associated with obvious changes in the ratios of different lipoprotein fractions