EXPLORING LIPID VARIATIONS IN UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD ACROSS DIFFERENT DELIVERY MODES

Objective: The mode of delivery (vaginal or cesarean) may affect the lipid profile of the newborn, which has implications for their future health. Methods: The study included 150 mothers who gave birth vaginally and 50 mothers who underwent elective cesarean sections. All mothers were aged between 21 and 44 years. The main outcome measures were the serum lipid levels of umbilical cord blood of newborns. The lipid levels included total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-D), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C). The study compared the obstetric variables and the serum lipid levels between the two groups of mothers. Results: The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of maternal age, neonatal weight, gestational duration, placental weight, and neonatal gender distribution. The newborns delivered by normal vaginal delivery had higher levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, VLDL-D, and LDL-C than those delivered by cesarean section, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study suggests that the mode of delivery does not have a significant impact on umbilical cord serum lipid levels. However, the sample size was small, and the results may not be generalizable to other populations.