TABLE 1.
Human milk and infant formula carotenoid and vitamin A concentrations1
| Nutrient | Experimental feeding |
|
|---|---|---|
| Donor human milk | Infant formula | |
| β-carotene (nM) | 32.1 ± 16.3 | 31.3 ± 7.1 |
| Lutein (nM) | 27.3 ± 3.3 | 7.8 ± 2.7 ∗ |
| Zeaxanthin (nM) | 20.2 ± 3.6 | 1.5 ± 0.4 ∗ |
| Lycopene (nM) | 18.5 ± 1.0 | – ∗ |
| Total preformed vitamin A2 (μM) | 2.07 ± 1.72 | 6.97 ± 0.70 ∗ |
| Theoretical total vitamin A activity3 (μM) |
2.13 ± 1.75 |
7.04 ± 0.71 ∗ |
| Retinol Activity Equivalents4 (μg/L) | 593 ± 493 | 1999 ± 200 ∗ |
∗ Indicates significant differences (P < 0.05).
1
The analyses were done in technical triplicates. Data are presented as means ± SD.
2
Sum of retinol and retinyl palmitate species detected.
3
Sum of total preformed vitamin A plus the theoretical yield of retinol from β-carotene of 2:1.
4
Sum of total preformed vitamin A in retinol equivalents plus β-carotene divided by 12, per the Institute of Medicine 2001 Dietary Reference Intake conversion factor for β-carotene from foods [26].