A healthy diet is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. Development, infancy, and early childhood are critical periods for the development of eye and brain function. Research shows that during this critical period lutein can have a prominent effect on the promotion of organ specific health.
“Early Pediatric Benefit of Lutein for Maturing Eyes and Brain—An Overview” authored by Professor Diego Gazzolo and published this month on Nutrients, provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview on this topic.
The authors highlight the presence and selective deposition of lutein in the eye and brain during pregnancy, breastfeeding and infancy and summarise the latest available research on the beneficial role of lutein in the pediatric population.
The nutritional gap of these dietary carotenoids is referenced with data from food intake studies indicating that women of childbearing potential, breastfeeding women and children do not ingest the amount of fruit and vegetables required to ensure an adequate intake of lutein and zeaxanthin. The authors concluded that “dietary recommendations may help to bridge the gap”.
