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Effect of ß-carotene supplementation and lactation on carotenoid metabolism and mitogenic T lymphocyte proliferation^1,2,3

¹ From the Department of Nutrition and Food Science and the Biometrics Program, the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, and the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Phytonutrients Laboratory, Beltsville, MD.

Background: Information is lacking regarding the effects of ß-carotene supplementation, early lactation, or both on circulating carotenoid concentrations and T lymphocyte proliferation.

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of short-term ß-carotene supplementation (30 mg/d for 28 d) during early lactation (days 4–32 postpartum) on circulating carotenoid concentrations and on the T lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin.

Design: Subjects aged 19–39 y were paired [lactating (4 d postpartum) and nonlactating (never pregnant, healthy women)] and randomly assigned to receive either ß-carotene or a placebo. During the study, subjects provided eight 24-h food records for analysis with the NUTRITIONIST IV and US Department of Agriculture carotenoid databases. Nonfasting blood samples were collected at baseline and at 28 d. Plasma analysis included quantification of -carotene, ß-carotene, lutein, lycopene, retinol, and -tocopherol, complete differential blood cell counts, and lymphocyte proliferative activity.

Results: ß-Carotene supplementation increased ß-carotene (P < 0.001) and -carotene (P < 0.05) concentrations but did not affect lycopene concentrations significantly. Supplemented women showed significant decreases in plasma lutein (P < 0.03), as did lactating subjects (P < 0.02). Neither lactation nor ß-carotene supplementation affected the T lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that ß-carotene supplementation as well as some events related to parturition, initiation of lactation, or both alter circulating concentrations of lutein. ß-Carotene supplementation does not enhance T lymphocyte immune competence in healthy women.

Key Words: ß-Carotene • carotenoids • lactation • lutein • T lymphocyte proliferation

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