(OR04-04-25) Total Serum Carotenoid Concentrations Increase Across Pregnancy in Healthy Participants From Houston, TX, USA

Objectives: Carotenoids support maternal and infant nutritional health. However, there are mixed results on whether maternal carotenoid status changes across pregnancy. The objective of this study was to determine if pregnancy status and pre/postnatal periods were determinants of serum, skin, and macular carotenoids in adult women.

Methods: Pregnant and non-pregnant 18-40 year old females were recruited from Houston, TX, USA. Participants completed assessments at 8-13, 23-24, and 33-34 wks gestation, and 7-8 wks post-partum. Non-pregnant participants attended parallel, time-matched visits. Carotenoid concentrations in serum, skin, and the macula were determined by HPLC, pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy, and heterochromatic flicker photometry, respectively. Dietary carotenoid intake was assessed by 24-hr dietary recalls. Mixed-effects models tested the effect of pregnancy status and time points on carotenoid biomarkers.

Results: Dietary carotenoid intake per 1000 kcal did not differ by pregnancy status or time points. Baseline total serum carotenoids were similar between groups, and significantly increased across pregnancy, but not in the non-pregnant group (P_interaction < 0.0001). Serum lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations were higher in pregnant than non-pregnant women (p < 0.01) and increased across pregnancy (p < 0.0001), specifically with higher concentrations in the 2^nd and 3^rd trimesters than in the 1^st trimester or postpartum. Serum lycopene and β-cryptoxanthin concentrations were higher in the 2^nd and 3^rd trimester than other time points in the pregnant women (p < 0.01). The effect of time significantly differed by pregnancy status for serum lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin (p < 0.0001, all) and lycopene concentrations (p < 0.05), with serum carotenoid increases across pregnancy but not in the non-pregnant state. There was no significant difference in serum α-/β-carotene concentrations nor skin or macular carotenoids by pregnancy status or time points.

Conclusions: Serum concentrations of some but not all carotenoids significantly differed by pregnancy status and/or time points, and this was not explained by changes in dietary intake. Additional research examining the determinants and consequences of maternal carotenoid status is warranted.

Funding Sources: USDA/ARS