title: Arterial cord blood lutein levels in preterm and term healthy newborns are sex and gestational age dependent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lutein is an antioxidant carotenoid exerting a key role in eye health, but no reference curve in the perinatal period is available.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study on the distribution of lutein and its metabolite 3'-oxolutein in arterial cord blood of preterm (n=40) and term (n=76) newborns according to gestational age, sex and delivery modalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lutein and 3'-oxolutein concentrations peaked at the beginning of third trimester (P<0.01, for both) being higher in the preterm than in term group. From 36 weeks onwards, lutein and 3'-oxolutein levels progressively decreased reaching the lowest levels at term between 41 and 42 weeks (P<0.01, for both). Lutein and 3'-oxolutein significantly (P<0.01, for all) correlated with each other (R=0.33) and with gestational age at sampling (R=0.31 and R=0.38 for lutein and 3-oxolutein, respectively) (P<0.001, for all). Indeed, lutein and 3'-oxolutein concentrations were significantly higher (P<0.05, for all) in female than in male and significantly lower (P<0.01, for both) in newborns delivered by caesarean section when compared to vaginal delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since macula densa and retina are sites of lutein accumulation, the present findings open-up a new cue on the potential role of lutein in the prevention of the retinopathy of prematurity.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Policlinico Casilino, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Picone
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ritieni
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabiano
authors.forename: Antonio Dario
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Troise
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Graziani
authors.forename: Piermichele
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paolillo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li Volti
authors.forename: Nicolantonio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Orazio
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galvano
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gazzolo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D014975:Lutein / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C051820:3'-oxolutein; D014975:Lutein