Total serum cholesterol and plasma lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in cord sera of newborns from hispanic mothers with gestational diabetes.

The objective of this research was to determine if gestational diabetes has an impact on the plasma lipoprotein profiles and/or cholesterol content of the plasma lipoproteins in newborns. Very low plus low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins in cord sera of newborns from gestational diabetic and non-diabetic mothers were isolated by heparin-affinity chromatography, and the cholesterol content in these plasma lipoprotein fractions were measured with an enzymatic assay. There were no significant differences in baby weights and total serum cholesterol levels between the two experimental groups. High density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p less than 0.05) were significantly lower while very low plus low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations (p less than 0.05), very low plus low density lipoprotein cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios (p less than 0.025), and total serum cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios (p less than 0.025) were significantly elevated in newborns of diabetic mothers. These results suggest that gestational diabetes altered neonatal plasma lipoprotein metabolism.