Abstract
Summary: The serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, total cholesterol, lipid P, lysolecithin, sphingomyelin, lecithin, and phos-phatidylethanolamine were determined on 15 full term and 13 premature jaundiced infants, before and after 48 hr of phototherapy and compared to nonjaundiced matched control subjects.
The cholesterol levels of the jaundiced full term newborns were significantly higher than those of the healthy control full term infants. Differences were also observed before and after phototherapy between the jaundiced full term and the jaundiced premature infants in the serum lipid P and sphingomyelin values, which were lower in the premature subjects. The serum triglycerides values of the jaundiced full term control infants were lower than those of the nonjaundiced newborns. A significant decrease of serum NEFA was observed after phototherapy in both the full term and premature groups of jaundiced infants.
The differences noted in cholesterol and lipid P levels may be due to liver dysfunction because of the jaundice. The differences in NEFA levels before and after phototherapy can be caused by the photooxidative breaking up of the NEFA by the phototherapy, by the decreased absorption of NEFA, or the increased catabolism of lipids. The decreased synthesis of NEFA from ketone bodies and glucose, or the probability of binding of NEFA by the bilirubin during the phototherapy must also be considered.
Speculation: The higher serum cholesterol levels observed in the jaundiced infants could be due to hepatic damage (dysfunction or excretory impediment).
The differences in NEFA levels before and after phototherapy can be caused by the photooxidative breaking up of the NEFA by the phototherapy, by the decreased absorption of NEFA, or by the increased catabolism of lipids. The decreased synthesis of NEFA from ketone bodies and glucose, or the probability of binding of NEFA by the bilirubin during phototherapy must also be considered.
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Hadjigeorgiou, E., Triliouri, D., Trichopoulou, A. et al. Influence of Phototherapy on the Serum Lipids of Jaundiced Newborn Infants. Pediatr Res 12, 690–694 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197806000-00002
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197806000-00002