Exclusive Breast-Feeding and Weaning: Effect on Serum Cholesterol and Lipoprotein Concentrations in Infants During the First Year of Life

Abstract

The total serum cholesterol concentration of infants was investigated at birth (n = 193) and at the ages of 2 (n = 192), 4 (n = 192), 6 (n = 190), 9 (n= 188), and 12 months (n = 196). Concentrations of cholesterol—very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein(LDL), high-density lipoprotein-2 (HDL2), HDL3—and apoprotein B were analyzed in 36 infants at 2, 6, 9, and 12 months of age. Serum cholesterol concentration rose significantly more slowly in the weaned infants compared with exclusively breast-fed infants. The mean difference in total serum cholesterol value between the exclusively breast-fed and weaned infants was largest at ages 2 (0.9 mmol/L, P < .001), 4 (0.6 mmol/L, P < .01), and 6 months (0.5 mmol/L, P < .01). The LDL cholesterol concentration was lower in weaned infants compared with exclusively breast-fed infants at age 2 and 6 months; the mean difference in LDL cholesterol value was 0.9 mmol/L at age 2 months (P < .001)and 0.7 mmol/L at age 6 months (P < .025). Also, the apoprotein B concentration was lower in weaned infants; the mean difference was 24 mg/dL at age 2 months (P < .01) and 30 mg/dL at age 6 months (P< .05). The apoprotein B-LDL cholesterol ratio was stable and similar in both feeding groups through the year. The HDL2 cholesterol concentration was lower in the formula-fed than in breast-fed infants at 2 months of age while the VLDL and HDL3 cholesterol concentrations were independent of the diet. The HDL-LDL cholesterol ratio was higher in formula-fed compared with breast fed infants at 2 and 6 months of age. Thus,low intake of cholesterol and high intake of unsaturated fatty acids modify blood lipid pattern markedly in infancy. Breast-feeding is the natural method of feeding an infant and the cholesterol level with breast-feeding must be considered physiological, so it is to be asked whether artificially made formulas in this respect are sufficient at the moment.