Association between lutein intake and lutein concentrations in human milk samples from lactating mothers in South Korea

Purpose This study aimed to determine the lutein content of breast milk and its association with maternal lutein intake among lactating mothers in South Korea. Methods Milk samples were obtained from 98 healthy lactating women (mean age; 32.5 +/- 3.5 years). Dietary intake data were collected by a food record method for three consecutive days. Maternal lutein intake was estimated by using the lutein database. Lutein concentrations in human milk were analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection method. Results The mean values of the daily lutein intakes and breast milk lutein concentrations in lactating mothers were 4.70 +/- 3.11 mg/day (median 3.87) and 3.50 +/- 3.71 mu g/ dl (median 2.45), respectively. Breast milk lutein concentrations were positively associated with the dietary lutein intake of lactating mothers after adjustment for lactating women's age, BMI, dietary energy intake, type of breast-feeding, and infants' age (beta = 0.3629, P = 0.0056). Conclusions Considering that lutein in milk can be associated with dietary lutein intake, knowledge about infant requirement is needed to define the adequate lutein levels in human milk.