Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Alteration in lipid parameters at birth has a strong association with the development of cardiovascular disease in later life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-one infants below the age of 6 months underwent evaluation of lipid parameters. The infants studied were categorized into two groups of ≤4 and >4 weeks of age, wherein their lipid parameters were compared. RESULTS: The normal distribution of lipid parameters of infants <6 months was generated. The mean total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol was 126.2 ± 26.5, 149.1 ± 48.6, 40.7 ± 14.6, and 69.4 ± 19.4 mg/dl, respectively. The total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol measured in ≤4 and >4 weeks of age groups were statistically not different (total cholesterol 125.0 ± 30.1 mg/dl vs 127.4 ± 23.4 mg/dl, P = 0.727, and LDL-cholesterol 66.0 ± 19.2 mg/dl vs 75.4 ± 21.2 mg/dl, P = 0.780). However, the HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides measured at ≤4 weeks versus >4 weeks age groups were statistically different (HDL-cholesterol 44.9 ± 17.2 mg/dl vs 36.9 ± 10.8 mg/dl, P = 0.031, and triglyceride 147.4 ± 60.2 mg/dl vs 186.5 ± 75.7 mg/dl, P = 0.030). CONCLUSION: The mean lipid parameters were significantly more atherogenic compared to the Western population. Triglyceride levels and HDL-cholesterol levels change significantly after 4 weeks of age compared to that observed before 4 weeks of age.