(P01-014-24) Skin Carotenoids Measured by Reflection Spectroscopy Correlate With Vegetable Intake in Diverse Adolescents in Houston, TX

Objectives: Adolescents are the most at-risk pediatric population for low fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption. Objective measurement of FV intake is needed to effectively evaluate interventions aimed at improving FV intake in adolescents. Skin carotenoid concentration is a potential objective biomarker of FV intake, but the plausibility and robustness must be established in adolescent. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy-measured skin carotenoid scores (SCSs) and self-reported FV intake among ethnic minority US adolescents.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of skin carotenoid and dietary data collected in a randomized, controlled study that collected this data. Adolescents [13.6 (SD 1.5) years of age; 86.2% Hispanic, 12.6% African American, 1.2% Asian] (N=167) participated in a healthy lifestyles program as their physical education class in Houston, TX. Over the course of a year, participants’ SCSs were measured by pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy (Veggie Meter, Longevity Link, UT) and self-reported FV intake was assessed using questions from the School Physical Activity and Nutrition questionnaire at four separate time points. The relationship between adolescent SCSs and FV intake was tested using generalized linear mixed models, controlling for body mass index z-score, sex, assessment time-point, group assignment, and age.

Results: SCSs were positively predicted by self-reported intakes for total FV times per day (B=2.40; p=0.028), vegetables (B=3.87, p=0.010), and orange and dark green vegetables (B=5.37, p=0.019). However, there was no significant relationship between SCSs and fruit intake (B=1.15, p=0.613).

Conclusions: SCS measured by pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy is a plausible dietary biomarker of vegetable intake among US ethnic minority adolescents. Skin carotenoid measurement merits further investigation as a biomarker of FV intake in adolescents.

Funding Sources: USDA/ARS, NIH NCATS