Women's Health Frequently Asked Questions
What role does lutein play in woman's/infant health?
Lutein has been detected both in breast and cervical/ovarian tissue 24,25. Other functions of lutein in the body currently being investigated include lutein's role during pregnancy and lactation. Studies have indicated that the level of lutein increases in the plasma throughout pregnancy, although the reason for this has not been defined at this time.
Lutein has also been detected in cord blood after delivery and is found in colostrum and mature breast milk. It has been theorized that lutein may be actively secreted into the breast milk. This is based on the finding that the levels of lutein and beta-carotene in the serum are equal, but lutein levels are significantly higher than beta-carotene in breast milk 30-34.