Untersuchungen über die Plasmalipoide des Neugeborenen, Säuglings und Kleinkindes

Total phospholipids and total cholesterol were determined in the venous cord blood plasma of 19 (27) newborn infants. We found values significantly lower than in adults. The ratio of cholesterol to cholesterol esters was normal. Thin layer chromatography of the phospholipids showed a reduction of the relative value of lecithin, paralleled by an increase of cephalin, lysolecithin and, less distinctly, of sphingomyelin. The absolut values (mg-%) of lecithin were clearly lower, of cephalin slightly increased; lysolecithin was normal and sphingomyelin was diminished. The analysis of the fatty acids of phospholipids and cholesterol esters by gas-liquid chromatography showed decreased C_18:2 fatty acids and increased C_20:4. An increase of C_16:0, C_16:1 and C_18:1 acids was found only in the cholesterol esters, an increase of C_22:5 and C_22:6 was seen in the phospholipids. In the plasma of 36 infants and children up to the age of 9 the cholesterol esters were determined by thin layer chromatography. The tetraenoic fatty acids decreased already within the first weeks after birth, the dienoic fatty acids did not reach the values of adults before the end of the second year. The increase of the dienoic fatty acids can be accelerated by a nutrition rich in linoleic acid. There was a considerable stray of the values of total cholesterol with a normal ratio of cholesterol and cholesterol esters in infants and children of the same age.