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Summary

The levels of serum total cholesterol, cholesterol esters, phospholipids, triglycerides and the total fatty acid composition were determined in non-pregnant and pregnant women at the 24the and 36th weeks of gestation.

The levels of the serum phospholipids and triglyucerides in the pregnant women at the 24th week of gestation were significantly higher than those in the nonpregnant women, but there was no significant increase in these serum lipids from the 24th to the 36th week of gestation. The serum total cholesterol and cholesterol esters in the pregnant women were significantly higher than in the non-pregnant women only at the 36th week of gestation. The total percentage of the saturated fatty acids was higher and that of teh polyunsaturated fatty acids lower at the 24teh week of pregnancy than those at the 36th week and for non-pregnant women. There was no significant difference in the percentage of the monounsaturated fatty acids in the three groups.