A new clinical study found that supplementation with Kemin’s FloraGlo lutein and Optisharp zeaxanthin was associated with significant improvements in carotenoid levels in both pregnant mothers and their babies. The findings were published in Opthalmology.
 
The present study Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Pregnancy (L-ZIP), building upon more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in moms and babies, was led by Dr. Paul S. Bernstein, at the John A. Moran Eye Center of the University of Utah, and was designed to assess whether lutein and zeaxanthin should be added to standard prenatal supplements for expecting mothers.
 
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Eye Institute.
 
In the study, 47 healthy pregnant women were administered either a placebo or a daily dose of 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin throughout the course of their pregnancy. Results showed statistically significant and clinically important increases in maternal and infant systemic and ocular carotenoid levels following supplementation, demonstrating that prenatal supplementation is both safe and effective in enhancing the health of mothers and infants. In addition to the carotenoid level increase, supplementation was shown to improve foveal maturity in infants, which is a measure of ocular development and function.
 
“The significant findings of improved carotenoid status in both mom and baby, as well as the improvement in the infant’s eye development, provide compelling evidence that lutein and zeaxanthin should become standard of care for all pregnant women,” said Brenda Fonseca, global technical services lead at Kemin Human Nutrition & Health. “Most prenatal supplements and infant formulas currently lack lutein and zeaxanthin, but this research highlights their crucial role and potential long-lasting benefits on maternal and infant health. Kemin is proud of its role in this remarkable study.”
 
“From the infants’ perspective, the bioavailability of lutein and zeaxanthin could potentially provide an early start for their lifelong physiological and protective roles for the developing retina and infant vision,” said Emmanuel Kofi Addo, OD, of the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. “The clinical relevance of differences in foveal maturity observed in our study lies in the potential long-term benefits for visual and cognitive development. Enhanced foveal maturity may improve infant visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Thus, a well-developed fovea is essential for sharp central vision and is critical for recognizing faces as children grow.”
 
Despite growing evidence of the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in eye and brain health, most prenatal supplements lack these nutrients, according to Kemin. “Our study prospectively showed that prenatal carotenoid supplementation considerably enhanced maternal and infant carotenoid status,” said Addo. “Since our bodies do not produce these molecules, it is crucial for maternal intake of lutein and zeaxanthin as this is the only source infants receive.”