Lutein is a dietary bioactive compound essential for infant health but has a low bioavailability. In our previous research, we successfully developed a type of lutein emulsion stabilized by a modified starch, which enhanced the stability and oral bioavailability of lutein in neonatal rats.
In this USDA-funded research, we will develop a model infant formula fortified with the lutein emulsion. The bioavailability and bioactivity of lutein in the formula will then be tested in a neonatal rodent model.

Funded by Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research, this project aims to study the role of lutein, delivered by nanoemulsions, in the progression of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in newborn rats. ROP is an eye disorder that affects ~32% of hospitalized preterm babies in the U.S. and is a leading cause of blindness among them. Lutein is a dietary antioxidant and the main component of the macular pigment to protect against light-initiated oxidative damage.

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient required for normal neonatal development, in terms of growth, vision, lung development, and immunity. However, not much is known about the metabolism of vitamin A in the neonatal period. In collaboration with researchers from Pennsylvania State University, this NIH-funded project aims to study the whole-body kinetics of vitamin A in neonatal rats as well as the effects of different forms of vitamin A supplementation on the kinetics.

In this project, we are developing supramolecular guest-host structures, including starch-guest inclusion complexes, as delivery systems for micronutrients and phytochemicals, so they can be protected against the adverse environment, and their bioavailability may be increased. Bioactive compounds that have been tested include beta-carotene, vitamin D, ascorbyl palmitate, retinyl palmitate, catechin, and phenolic acids.

Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of vitamin A, is known to be a key regulator of adipose tissue development in adult obese models. However, little is known about the effect of vitamin A or retinoic acid on obesity-associated developmental and metabolic conditions in early life. In this project, through a series of studies using Sprague-Dawley rats as the animal model, we assess the effects of dietary vitamin A or retinoic acid treatment on the adipose tissue development and associated metabolic conditions of neonatal rats from mothers consuming an obesogenic diet.

Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites produced in plants as a response to stressors. A large variety of phenolic compounds, e.g., phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins, have been documented to inhibit starch digesting enzymes. This project explores the effects of various phenolics on the in-vitro and in-vivo starch digestion kinetics as well as on glucose homeostasis.