Italian Journal of Pediatrics (May 2022)

Lutein levels in arterial cord blood correlate with neurotrophic calcium binding S100B protein in healthy preterm and term newborns

  • Simonetta Picone,
  • Alberto Ritieni,
  • Giulia Graziani,
  • Piermichele Paolillo,
  • Ebe D’Adamo,
  • Valentina Botondi,
  • Daniele Panichi,
  • Sara Torresi,
  • Daniela David,
  • Armando di Ludovico,
  • Francesco Chiarelli,
  • Diego Gazzolo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-022-01276-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 48, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Background S100B is an established biomarker of brain development and damage. Lutein (LT) is a naturally occurring xanthophyll carotenoid mainly concentrated in the central nervous system (CNS), but its neurotrophic role is still debated. We investigated whether LT cord blood concentrations correlate with S100B in a cohort of preterm and term healthy newborns. Methods We conducted a prospective study on the distribution of LT and S100B in arterial cord blood of healthy preterm (n = 50) and term (n = 50) newborns. Results S100B and LT showed a pattern of concentration characterized by higher levels (P < 0.01, for all) at 33-36 weeks gestation (GA) followed by a progressive decrease (P < 0.01, for all) from 37 onwards with a dip at term. Both S100B and LT were gender-dependent with significantly (P < 0.01, for all) higher levels in females in preterm and term groups. S100B (R = 0.68; P < 0.001) and LT (R = 0.40; P = 0.005) correlated with GA at sampling. A positive significant correlation (R = 0.87; P < 0.001) between S100B and LT was found. Conclusions The present data showing a correlation between S100B and LT supports the notion of a LT trophic role in the CNS. Further investigations in high-risk infants are needed to elucidate LT involvement in the pathophysiological cascade of events leading to CNS development and damage.

Keywords