Health Effects of Carotenoids during Pregnancy and Lactation

Abstract

Adequate nutrition is particularly important during pregnancy since it is needed not only for maintaining the health of the mother, but also determines the course of pregnancy and its outcome, fetus development as well as the child’s health after birth and during the later period of life. Data coming from epidemiological and interventions studies support the observation that carotenoids intake provide positive health effects in adults and the elderly population. These health effects are the result of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies have also demonstrated the significant role of carotenoids during pregnancy and infancy. Some studies indicate a correlation between carotenoid status and lower risk of pregnancy pathologies induced by intensified oxidative stress, but results of these investigations are equivocal. Carotenoids have been well studied in relation to their beneficial role in the prevention of preeclampsia. It is currently hypothesized that carotenoids can play an important role in the prevention of preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction. Carotenoid status in the newborn depends on the nutritional status of the mother, but little is known about the transfer of carotenoids from the mother to the fetus. Carotenoids are among the few nutrients found in breast milk, in which the levels are determined by the mother’s diet. Nutritional status of the newborn directly depends on its diet. Both mix feeding and artificial feeding may cause depletion of carotenoids since infant formulas contain only trace amounts of these compounds. Carotenoids, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin play a significant role in the development of vision and nervous system (among others, they are important for the development of retina as well as energy metabolism and brain electrical activity). Furthermore, more scientific evidence is emerging on the role of carotenoids in the prevention of disorders affecting preterm infants, who are susceptible to oxidative stress, particularly retinopathy of prematurity.

The effects of zinc supplementation on zinc, retinol and carotene levels in lactating Amazonian women

“…More modern methods have now allowed the identification of more than 700 carotenoids, of which about 50 can be found in the human diet (Zielinska et al 2017), and carotenoids in breastmilk are largely determined by the mother's diet. Breast milk carotenoid concentrations vary greatly across countries (Canfield et al 2003) and of the five major dietary carotenoids, total provitamin A carotenoids as a group were better predictors of milk retinol than beta-carotene alone.…”

<p>Insights into Novel Infant Milk Formula Bioactives</p>

“…Lutein is a carotenoid found in human milk and the concentration varies depending on maternal diet, with intake of fruits and vegetables increasing content. 60 It functions as a structural component of the eye, an antioxidant, and as a filter for blue light. Lutein plays a biological and physiological role in the visual development and function in infants; 61 and infants are reliant on breastfeeding to receive adequate quantities.…”

“…63 Recent studies demonstrated that lutein-supplemented infant formula is safe and supports the visual and cognitive development of infants. [60][61][62]64 Presently, there is no research that lutein supplementation influences brain accretion during infancy. A recent study found that the concentration of lutein is higher in several regions of the brain during infancy than in adulthood which may indicate that lutein may play an important role in early neural development.…”

“…A recent study found that the concentration of lutein is higher in several regions of the brain during infancy than in adulthood which may indicate that lutein may play an important role in early neural development. 60 Currently, there are a number of infant formulas that contain lutein. However, further research on lutein must be conducted to ensure efficacy for optimal growth and development outcomes in infants.…”

The association between intake of dietary lycopene and other carotenoids and gestational diabetes mellitus risk during mid-trimester: a cross-sectional study

“…Recently, carotenoids have received considerable interest due to their biological antioxidant activity in maintaining positive health (14,15) . Carotenoids, a group of natural fat-soluble pigments, are abundant in dark, green leafy and yellow-orange vegetables and fruits (16) .…”