Lutein supplementation for children in their early years.

According to a scientific report by Associate Professor Elizabeth of the Jean Mayer Institute for Nutrition Research in the United States, lutein is found to be most concentrated in the macula of the eye, accounting for 66-77% of the carotenoids that make up the brain's structure. It is particularly present in high concentrations in four brain regions related to language, memory, hearing, and vision in children.

Mothers need to supplement their children's lutein intake during the first years of life - Photo: Shutterstock

Lutein helps children enhance their thinking, learning, and memory abilities.

Dr. Elizabeth's clinical trials showed that older adults who consumed more lutein-rich foods had higher cognitive abilities than those who did not. The research results indicated that individuals with higher levels of lutein in their brains and eyes had better language skills, learning abilities, and memory. This suggests that lutein not only plays a crucial role in eye health but also enhances cognitive abilities throughout adulthood and development.

Studies in infants and young children have also shown a superior level of lutein among the carotenoids present in the brain, accounting for up to 59%. This suggests that lutein not only helps children have bright, healthy eyes but also likely has a positive impact on their cognitive functions, learning, and memory.

Supplementing your child with Lutein is an investment in their future.

A lack of lutein can impair a child's visual development, making the retina more vulnerable due to a deficiency in essential carotenoid pigments, leading to reduced visual processing ability. Furthermore, lutein is highly concentrated in brain regions responsible for hearing, vision, language, and memory, and is likely to positively impact these areas and their functions during early childhood. Increasing lutein intake in children also means enhancing their vision, thinking abilities, learning, and memory.

Dr. Elizabeth also pointed out the differences between breastfed and non-breastfed babies, noting that breast milk is the optimal source of lutein for infants. Studies of brain structure have also shown that these babies have higher concentrations of lutein in their blood plasma and brain. Therefore, several infant formula brands are now available on the market that are fortified with lutein to provide the necessary amount to support brain and visual development in children.

The human body cannot synthesize lutein on its own and must obtain it from daily food intake. When infants are young, lutein comes from breast milk. However, the lutein content in breast milk gradually decreases during the first month, even though the amount of lutein absorbed by the mother remains unchanged. Therefore, infants need to supplement lutein through dark green vegetables and fruits such as epina leaves, various types of squash, lettuce, red bell peppers, kiwi, oranges, apples, avocados, pears, etc., as well as other alternative foods such as lutein-containing baby food or formula.

According to (Thanh Nien) - M.D