FREE FATTY ACIDS, GLYCEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDES DURING THE FIRST 24 HOURS IN INFANTS WITH A BIRTH WEIGHT ≤2 700 GRAMS

ABSTRACT. Christensen, N. C. (Departments of Obstetrics and Paediatrics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark). Free fatty acids, glycerol and triglycerides during the first 24 hours in infants with a birth weight <2 700 grams. Acta Paediatr Scand 70:485,.–The influence of birth weight and gestational age on the concentrations of free fatty acids, glycerol and triglycerides during the first 24 hours of life were studied in 86 healthy newborn infants with BW ≤2700 g. Very low FFA values were found in the first 6 hours in infants with GA ≤34 weeks, whereas FFA increased from the second hour in infants with higher GA. All infants had peak values at 12 h. Significant correlations were found between FFA and GA, most pronounced in the second hour after birth. No differences were seen between AGA and SGA infants of similar GA. High glycerol concentrations were found from the second hour in all infants irrespective of GA and BW. Triglyceride concentrations 24 hours after birth were not influenced by GA or BW. The finding of intact lipolysis but low FFA releases in the first hours in infants with GA ≤34 weeks could not be explained by differences in rectal temperature, blood glucose or caloric intake.