Effects of Lutein on Oxidative Stress in the Term Newborn: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in pathological conditions during the early neonatal period. The newborns are susceptible to oxidative damage due to high metabolic rate and low levels of antioxidant enzymes. Lutein has been found to have protective functions in adult humans as antioxidant. Aim: To evaluate the effects of lutein on OS in newborns. We tested the hypothesis that lutein would act both by increasing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting OS. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center study. 20 healthy term newborns were assigned to receive lutein or placebo (lutein and control group, respectively) at 12 and 36 h after birth. Total hydroperoxides (TH), as marker of OS, and biological antioxidant potential (BAP), as marker of antioxidant power, were detected on cord blood and at 48 h of life in all babies. Results: TH significantly increased from birth to 48 h in the control group (p = 0.02), but not in the lutein group. In the lutein group, BAP significantly increased after 48 h (p = 0.02), showing a strengthening of antioxidant activity due to lutein. At 48 h of life, compared with those in the control group, neonates assigned to receive lutein had significantly lower TH levels (p = 0.04) and higher BAP levels (p = 0.028). Conclusions: Lutein administration in newborns increases the levels of BAP decreasing TH. The enhancement of antioxidant activity in plasma clearly results in protecting newborn from perinatal OS. These preliminary results, adding a new contribution in antioxidant strategies, strongly require to be confirmed by RCT.

Oxidative stress and total antioxidant status in term newborns and their mothers

“…Perrone et al demonstrated a beneficial effect of lutein, selectively accumulating in the retina [14]. Gitto et al indicate the positive influence of even a short-term melatonin therapy on reducing oxidative stress in newborns.…”

Effect of carotenoid supplementation on plasma carotenoids, inflammation and visual development in preterm infants

“…Plasma carotenoid concentrations significantly decline in formula-fed infants immediately following birth compared with their breast-fed counterparts. [17][18][19] Recently, several small studies have approached issues of carotenoid bioavailability 20,21 and putative anti-oxidant effects 16 in preterm newborns. We report the first comprehensive, randomized controlled trial designed to assess feasibility and potential benefits of supplementing preterm infant formulas with the carotenoids lutein, lycopene and b-carotene.…”

Serum Biological Antioxidant Potential Predicts the Prognosis of Hemodialysis Patients

“…The usefulness of BAP as a clinical marker has been reported in various fields such as neurotrauma and neonatology [8,9]. Measurement of BAP is simple and depends on the chromatic reaction from FeCl 3 - to FeCl 2 -thiocyanate derivatives that reflect serum reducing activity.…”