TABLE 5.

Interrelationships between postpartum maternal and infant systemic carotenoid status¹

	Infants’ carotenoid status
	Cord blood L + Z, ng/mL2	Cord blood total carotenoids, ng/mL2	Skin carotenoid, RU3
Postpartum maternal
Serum L + Z, ng/mL	0.73 (<0.0001)	0.71 (<0.0001)	0.64 (<0.0001)
Serum total carotenoids, ng/mL	0.71 (< 0.0001)	0.71 (<0.0001)	0.60 (<0.0001)
Skin carotenoids, RU	0.70 (<0.0001)	0.70 (<0.0001)	0.51 (0.0008)

Abbreviations: L + Z, lutein + zeaxanthin; RU, Raman units; Total carotenoids, summation of lutein, zeaxanthin, β cryptoxanthin, α carotene, β carotene, and lycopene.

To convert ng/mL L+Z to nmol/L, multiply ng/mL by 1.758.

¹Data shown combine results from both study arms and present as Pearson co-efficient of correlation, r (statistical significance at 0.05 level).

²Number of participants is 37.

³Number of participants is 40.