title: Effects of lutein supplementation on biological antioxidant status in preterm infants: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that lutein, compared to the placebo, would enhance the total antioxidant status (TAS) in the preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants with gestational age (GA) ≤34 weeks were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of lutein and zeaxanthin (0.5 mg + 0.02 mg/kg/d) or placebo from the 7th day of life until 40th week of postmenstrual age or until discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-seven preterm infants were randomized (38 in the Lutein group and 39 in the Placebo group) with mean GA of 30.4 (±2.3) weeks and the mean birth weight of 1415 (±457) grams. The TAS did not result statistically different between the two groups during all the study period, but a significant linear correlation was evidenced between plasma lutein concentration and TAS (r = 0.14, p = 0.012) and between plasma zeaxanthin concentration and TAS (r = 0.13, p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation of preterm infants with orally lutein was ineffective in enhancing biological antioxidant capacity. Further studies need to better understand the bioavailability of lutein in the neonatal period in order to identify any best form of supplementation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  UMIN000007041.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. simocosta@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannantonio
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gervasoni
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Persichilli
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuppi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cota
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000097:blood; D065146:Zeaxanthins
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010919:Placebos; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014975:Lutein