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
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
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
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.
Bone RA, Landrum JT & Tarsis SL (1985): Preliminary identification of the human macular pigment. Vis. Res. 25, 1531–1535.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ebrahim GJ (1993): Feeding the preterm brain. J. Trop. Pediatr. 39, 130–131.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Prentice A (1981): Determination of fat content of breast milk samples. Br. J. Nutr. 21, 18–23.
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.
Thurnham DI & Northrop-Clewes CA (1999): Optimal nutrition: vitamin A and the carotenoids. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 58, 449–457.
Villapando S & Hamosh M (1998): Early and late effects of breast feeding: does breastfeeding really matter? Biol. Neonate 74, 177–191.
Wagner CL, Anderson DM & Pittard WB (1996): Special properties of human milk. Clin. Pediatr. 35, 283–293.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
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
Rights 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
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601753
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in formula and human milk samples from Italian mothers
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2015)
-
Effect of carotenoid supplementation on plasma carotenoids, inflammation and visual development in preterm infants
Journal of Perinatology (2012)
-
Serum lutein concentrations in healthy term infants fed human milk or infant formula with lutein
European Journal of Nutrition (2010)
-
Development and validation of a brief food frequency questionnaire for dietary lutein and zeaxanthin intake assessment in Italian women
European Journal of Nutrition (2008)