Food & Nutrition

Arab Journal of Food & Nutrition
variables were analyzed together, significant negative correlations were observed
between infants plasma HDL-C levels and maternal intakes of proteins (r = - 0.34),
cholesterol (r = -0.32), saturated fatty acids (r =-0.27), palmitic acid (r= -0.37),stearic
acid (r = -0.33) and linoleic acid (r=-0.33), These correlations seen to be reflected in
significant positive correlations between the same maternal dietary factors and breastfed
infants’ plasma LDL-C to HDL-C ratio. The pattern of these correlations became
more apparent with the case of exclusive breast-fed infants . In the case of mixed
breast-fed infants, the most apparent significant correlations obtained were the positive
ones between infants’ plasma TG levels and maternal intakes of cholesterol (r =0,64),
linoleic acid (r= 0.69), oleic acid (r=0.60), polyunsaturates (r=0.53) and
monounsaturates (r=0.55). The latter negatively correlated (r =0.52) with plasma LDL-
C to I-IDL-C ratio.
The data of the present study indicates significant differences in certain plasma
lipid fractions between breast-fed and formula-fed infants, and their respective
subgroups. Of particular were the differences in the plasma levels of HDL-C and LDL-
C. The data also indicate a clear link between maternal intakes of dietary lipids, in
quantitative and qualitative wise, and infants’ plasma lipid variables. It may be
suggested that maternal diet particularly fat fraction, can influence infants’ plasma
lipid and lipoproteins, and may be considered a potential factor behind the apparent
controversy in the results of several studies regarding the effect of type of feeding on
plasma lipid variables in infants.
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Volume 11, No. 25, 2011
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