Serum lutein concentrations in healthy term infants fed human milk or infant formula with lutein.
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.
Bettler
Jodi
J
Wyeth, Collegeville, PA, USA.
Zimmer
J Paul
JP
Neuringer
Martha
M
DeRusso
Patricia A
PA
D001942:Breast Feeding; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis
D019207:beta Carotene; D014975:Lutein