Effect of lutein supplementation on blood carotenoids and vitamins in a variety of marine mammals

Citation

Koutsos EA, Schmitt T, Colitz CMH, Mazzaro L. 2011. Effect of lutein supplementation on blood carotenoids and vitamins in a variety of marine mammals. In Ward A, Coslik A, Maslanka M, Eds. Proceedings of the Ninth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Kansas City, MO.

Abstract

Lutein, an oxygenated carotenoid concentrated in the retina in a variety of species, may enhance ocular health (Mares-Perlman et al., 2002). Given the high incidence of ocular pathology in captive marine mammals (Dunn et al., 1996), it was hypothesized that a lutein supplement may protect against some of these conditions. This trial examined the response of different marine mammals to dietary lutein supplementation.

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