Influence of milk source on serum lipids and lipoproteins during the first year of life, Bogalusa heart study.

An epidemiological study of coronary heart disease risk factor variables in a cohort of 440 infants from birth to age 4 was conducted in Bogalusa, LA. This report evaluates differences in serum lipids and lipoproteins and dietary intakes of infants fed various milk or formula types during the 1st year of life. There were significant positive correlations between serum total cholesterol and beta-lipoprotein cholesterol levels and consumption of cow's milk at 6 months of age. The cow's milk-fed infants at 6 months had significantly greater intakes of animal protein and saturated fat as compared to the formula-fed groups. At 1 yr these differences were not found, possibly because of the heterogeneity of the eating patterns of infants by this age. Serum lipid and lipoprotein levels appear to be responsive to concurrent dietary intake of fat and cholesterol in 6-month-old infants.