Alpha-carotene intake, and the presence of this carotenoid in breast milk, was positively associated with MPOD (macular pigment optical density) and breastmilk content in lutein in 80 lactating women, according to a study published in the journal Nutrients.
 
MPOD is a measurement of pigment density in the part of the eye known as the macula, and high MPOD is associated with healthy eyes and better vision. Notably, while lutein and zeaxanthin are well-known for improving MPOD, a-carotene intake had the strongest association with MPOD in this population, despite it not being known as a macular pigment. This could be due to secondary effects of a-carotene during the postpartum period, according to the authors. Macular pigment is made up mainly of lutein and zeaxanthin, which accumulate in the eye and provide the retina with protection against oxidative stress and damaging blue light, resulting in improvements to visual acuity and light sensitivity, according to the authors.
 
Other carotenoids in breastmilk besides a-carotene were not associated with MPOD or breastmilk lutein content. In total, the researchers studied MPOD measurements and the dietary intake of five carotenoids (a-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and combined lutein-zeaxanthin) in the first three months postpartum. Breastmilk samples were taken from a subset of mothers in order to analyze their nutrient composition.
 
Nutrient consumption throughout pregnancy and lactation is known to be crucial for infant health and neurodevelopment. This study also concluded that MPOD measurements in mothers may serve as a prospective marker for the intake of carotenoids during the postpartum period of a term-born population.
 
A-carotene and its positive correlation with MPOD and carotenoid content in breast milk may play a role in the visual and cognitive development of infants, and are primarily obtained from the mother during pregnancy or later from breast milk, the researchers concluded. “In contrast to previous studies that demonstrated an increase in breastmilk lutein content after maternal dietary supplementation, we found no association with the dietary intake of lutein and breastmilk lutein content,” they wrote. “Instead, our results reveal a significant association between MPOD and alpha-carotene intake, as well as the breastmilk contents of lutein isoforms.”
 
“This is an exciting study because it is the first study to examine maternal MPOD and dietary associations in the postpartum period in a term-born population,” Dr. Ariati Aris, scientific affairs specialist at PhytoGaia, a supplier of a-carotene ingredients, said. “Carotenoids have been proven in trials to improve macular and cognitive health. Therefore, it is important for mothers to include alpha-carotene in their diets to ensure the healthy visual development of their babies.”
 
“This study opened my eyes, literally. I never expected alpha-carotene to be so highly correlated with maternal MPOD,” said Bryan See, vice president of PhytoGaia. “I am encouraged and look forward to seeing more studies on multi-carotenoids with alpha-carotene in relation to MPOD and cognitive health during pregnancy and in babies as well as adults. Perhaps, it is prudent for formulators and companies to consider incorporating natural alpha- and beta-carotene such as CaroGaia into their infant formula and multivitamins.”