Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Communication
  • Published:

A comparison of lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in formula and human milk samples from Northern Ireland mothers

Abstract

Background: Two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin are found in the retinal pigment epithelium of the eye where they are believed to protect it against oxidative and light damage. The amounts of these carotenoids consumed by premature infants are not known.

Objectives: The objective of the investigation was to measure these carotenoids in human and formulae milks.

Design: In all, 28 human milk samples were obtained at various times between days 1 and 41 of lactation from 13 mothers. Six formula milks commonly used in hospitals were also analysed.

Setting: Mothers who provided the milk samples had infants in the neonatal ward at the Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast.

Results: Median lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in human milk were 4.79 (range 0.42–9.98) nmol/g fat and 0.55 (0.00–1.70) nmol/g fat, respectively. Five of the six formula milks also contained lutein and zeaxanthin with concentrations that varied over a wide range (0.7–9.7 and 0.1–1.2 nmol/g fat, respectively).

Conclusions: Carotenoid concentrations usually decreased with the duration of lactation. Some formula milks that were specially formulated for premature infants contained high concentrations of the lutein and zeaxanthin and the source may be egg yolk.

Sponsorship: These studies were supported by the University of Ulster and the Northern Ireland Mother and Baby Appeal.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bernt KM & Walker WA (1999): Human milk as a carrier of biochemical messages. Acta Paediatr. Suppl. 430, 27–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone RA, Landrum JT & Tarsis SL (1985): Preliminary identification of the human macular pigment. Vis. Res. 25, 1531–1535.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bone RA, Landrum JT, Fernandez L & Tarsis SL (1988): Analysis of the macular pigment by HPLC: retinal distribution and age study. Invest. Ophthalnor. Vis. Sci. 34, 2033–2040.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone RA, Landrum JT, Friedes LM, Gomez CM, Kilburn MD, Menendez E, Vidal I & Wang W (1997): Distribution of lutein and zeaxanthin stereoisomers in the human retina. Exp. Eye Res. 64, 211–218.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canfield LM, Giuliano AR, Neilson EM, Blashil BM, Graver EJ & Yap HH (1998): Kinetics of the response of milk and serum beta-carotene to daily beta-carotene supplementation in healthy, lactating women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 67, 276–283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dachtler M, Konrad K & Albert K (1998): Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic identification of lutein and zeaxanthin stereoisomers in bovine retina using a C30 bonded phase. J. Chromatogr. B. 720, 211–216.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebrahim GJ (1993): Feeding the preterm brain. J. Trop. Pediatr. 39, 130–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Emenhiser C, Simunovic W, Sander LC & Schwartz SJ (1996): Separation of geometrical carotenoid isomers in biological extracts using a polymeric C30 column in reversed-phased liquid chromatography. J. Agric. Food Chem. 44, 3887–3893.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention (1998): In Carotenoids, Vol.2, pp 32–33. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer WHO.

  • Jackson JG, Lien EL, White SJ, Bruns NJ & Kuhlman (1998): Major carotenoids in human milk: longitudinal and diurnal patterns. Nutr. Biochem. 9, 2–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jewell VC, Sweet D, Tubman TRJ, Northrop-Clewes CA & Thurnham DI (2000): Lutein and zeaxanthin levels in newborn infants and their mothers. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 59, 47A.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jewell VC, Mayes CBD, Tubman TRJ, Northrop-Clewes CA & Thurnham DI (2001): Changes in premature infant lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations during the early weeks of life. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 60 186A.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jewell VC (2001): The importance of lutein and zeaxanthin in early life, particularly in premature infants. D.Phil Thesis, Chapter 6, University of Ulster, Coleraine.

  • Khachik F, Spangler CJ & Cecil Smith J (1997): Identification, quantitation, and relative concentrations of carotenoids and their metabolites in human milk and serum. Anal. Chem. 69, 1873–1881.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas A, Gibbs JA, Lyster RL & Baum JD (1978): Creamatocrit: simple technique for estimating fat concentration and energy value of human milk. Br. Med. J. 1, 1018–1020.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macias C & Schweigert FJ (2001): Changes in the concentration of carotenoids, vitamin A, alpha-tocopherol and total lipids in human milk throughout early lactation. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 45, 82–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malinow MR, Feeney-Burns L, Peterson LH, Klein ML & Neuringer M (1980): Diet-related macular anomalies in monkeys. Invest. Ophthal. Vis. Sci. 19, 857–863.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mayes CBD, Jewell VC, Northrop-Clewes CA, Tubman R & Thurnham DI (2001): Longitudinal measurement of lutein and zeaxanthin in the preterm infant. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 45 (Suppl 1), 32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prentice A (1981): Determination of fat content of breast milk samples. Br. J. Nutr. 21, 18–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommerburg O, Meissner K, Nelle M, Lenhartz H & Leichsenring M (2000): Carotenoid supply in breast-fed and formula-fed neonates. Eur. J. Pediatr. 159, 86–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thurnham DI & Northrop-Clewes CA (1999): Optimal nutrition: vitamin A and the carotenoids. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 58, 449–457.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villapando S & Hamosh M (1998): Early and late effects of breast feeding: does breastfeeding really matter? Biol. Neonate 74, 177–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner CL, Anderson DM & Pittard WB (1996): Special properties of human milk. Clin. Pediatr. 35, 283–293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Guarantor: VC Jewell.

Contributors: VCJ participated in study design, was responsible for laboratory analysis, statistical analysis, interpretation of the data and writing the paper. CBDM was responsible for subject recruitment and sample collection. TRJT was involved in study design, collection of samples and reviewing the paper. CAN-C was involved in study design and reviewing the paper. DIT was responsible for planning the study and study design, and participated in the statistical analysis, interpretation of the data and writing the paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V C Jewell.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jewell, V., Mayes, C., Tubman, T. et al. A comparison of lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in formula and human milk samples from Northern Ireland mothers. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 90–97 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601753

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601753

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links