Serum lutein concentrations in healthy term infants fed human milk or infant formula with lutein
Open Access
- 12 August 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in European Journal of Nutrition
- Vol. 49 (1), 45-51
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-009-0047-5
Abstract
Background Lutein is a carotenoid that may play a role in eye health. Human milk typically contains higher concentrations of lutein than infant formula. Preliminary data suggest there are differences in serum lutein concentrations between breastfed and formula-fed infants. Aim of the study To measure the serum lutein concentrations among infants fed human milk or formulas with and without added lutein. Methods A prospective, double-masked trial was conducted in healthy term formula-fed infants (n = 26) randomized between 9 and 16 days of age to study formulas containing 20 (unfortified), 45, 120, and 225 mcg/l of lutein. A breastfed reference group was studied (n = 14) and milk samples were collected from their mothers. Primary outcome was serum lutein concentration at week 12. Results Geometric mean lutein concentration of human milk was 21.1 mcg/l (95% CI 14.9–30.0). At week 12, the human milk group had a sixfold higher geometric mean serum lutein (69.3 mcg/l; 95% CI 40.3–119) than the unfortified formula group (11.3 mcg/l; 95% CI 8.1–15.8). Mean serum lutein increased from baseline in each formula group except the unfortified group. Linear regression equation indicated breastfed infants had a greater increase in serum lutein (slope 3.7; P < 0.001) per unit increase in milk lutein than formula-fed infants (slope 0.9; P < 0.001). Conclusions Breastfed infants have higher mean serum lutein concentrations than infants who consume formula unfortified with lutein. These data suggest approximately 4 times more lutein is needed in infant formula than in human milk to achieve similar serum lutein concentrations among breastfed and formula fed infants.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Bioaccessibility of β-Carotene, Lutein, and Lycopene from Fruits and VegetablesJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2006
- Calibration of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in early pregnancyAnnals of Epidemiology, 2004
- Effect of the stage of lactation in humans on carotenoid levels in milk, blood plasma and plasma lipoprotein fractionsEuropean Journal of Nutrition, 2004
- A comparison of lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in formula and human milk samples from Northern Ireland mothersEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003
- Comparison of Lutein Bioavailability from Vegetables and SupplementInternational Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, 2003
- BIOAVAILABILITY AND BIOCONVERSION OF CAROTENOIDSAnnual Review of Nutrition, 1998
- Dietary Carotenoids, Vitamins A, C, and E, and Advanced Age-Related Macular DegenerationJAMA, 1994
- Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Eye Disease Case-Control Study GroupPublished by American Medical Association (AMA) ,1994
- Quantitation of and inter/intra-individual variability in major carotenoids of mature human milkThe Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 1994
- Creamatocrit: simple clinical technique for estimating fat concentration and energy value of human milk.BMJ, 1978