Abstract
Cholesterol and fatty acid studies on blood were undertaken primarily to determine the relation of these substances, if any, to icterus neonatorum, and to establish average values for infants.
The method which was employed was that which has been described by Bloor. 1 About one hundred determinations were made on the blood of infants and of older children varying in age from one to four and one-half years. Table I shows the results of these determinations in a number of average cases.
Non-saponification values were difficult to read in some cases due to the development of a brownish-green color probably caused by the presence of bile derivatives. It will be observed that there are no marked differences in the amounts of fatty acid and of cholesterol in the two series of infants, but the values for blood cholesterol are markedly lower than those which have been given for normal adults. (The effects of the alimentary lipemia persisting, as is usually stated, from 8 to 12 hours, were obviated as far as possible by obtaining blood specimens before feeding. Cholesterol values, however, would probably be very little influenced.—Bloor, Studies on Blood Fat, II.)
Table II shows a few values which were obtained on normal older children.
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