Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Amy Mackey

Bridget Barrett-Reis

Pamela T Price

Nancy Auestad

Jeffrey M Boff

Daniel S Albrecht

Disclosed are infant formulas and corresponding methods of using them to promote retinal health and vision development in infants. The formulas, which are free of egg phospholipids and comprise fat, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals, including docosahexaenoic acid and, on a ready-to-feed basis, at least about 50 mcg/liter of lutein, wherein the weight ratio of lutein (mcg) to docosahexaenoic acid (mg) is from about 1:2 to about 10:1. The formulas are also believed to be especially useful in reducing the risk of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants.

Infant formulas containing docosahexaenoic acid and lutein

Disclosed is a method of reducing the risk or severity of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants. The method comprises (a) measuring skin carotenoid levels in preterm infants, preferably by Raman Spectroscopy, and then (b) administering supplemental carotenoids to those infants in need thereof, wherein the supplemental carotenoids comprise lutein, lycopene, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin. The supplemental carotenoids may be provided by an infant formula comprising, on a ready-to-feed basis, from about 100 to about 2000 mcg/liter of total carotenoids, wherein the total carotenoids include at least about 50 mcg/liter of lutein. The formulas may further comprise docosahexaenoic acid.

Disclosed are nutritional formulas, including reconstitutable powders, comprising carbohydrate, protein and a lipid component containing a polyunsaturated fatty acid; and from about 0.25 to about 10 ppm, by weight of the total oil content of the infant formula, of a combination of lutein, lycopene, and beta-carotene with preferred weight ratios of the lutein to beta-carotene of from about 0.0196:1 to about 59:1, the lycopene to beta-carotene of from about 0.00805:1 to about 114:1, and the lutein to lycopene of from about 0.0117:1 to about 108:1. Also disclosed are methods of providing nutrition using the disclosed formulas. The nutritional formulas provide improved product stability and color characteristics.

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Columbus, OH, United States of America

Amy Mackey