Serum Cholesterol Concentration in New-Born African and European Infants and their Mothers

Abstract

Serum was collected from 51 African and 37 European mothers and their infants and determinations were made of total and esterified cholesterol concentration. It was found that: (1) mean cholesterol concentrations of infants from both groups were identical; (2) mean cholesterol concentrations in the African mothers were significantly lower than among the European mothers; and (3) no significant difference was found in the percentage of esterified serum cholesterol in the infant and maternal groups from both races. The possible parts played by race, diet, liver disease, and sex hormones, in producing low serum cholesterol concentrations in African adults, are discussed.