| The research project aims to obtain insight in the influence of nutrition (cholesterol content, breast-milk or formula feeding, prebiotics) and of birth weight on de novo cholesterolsynthesis, lipogenesis and the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts in (premature) infants. Epidemiological research indicate that fetal/neonatal nutritional status and low neonatal birthweight may influence the susceptibility to chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, in adult life. Research in this field could lead to insight in the specific metabolic needs of these infants and therefore to more adequate feeding. Studies are performed in preterm neonates and in animal models, using stable isotope methodologies |
