(PTFS19-05-24) Examining Associations Between Skin Carotenoids, Self-Reported Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Diet Quality Among Predominantly Hispanic/Latinx Food Pantry Clients

Objectives: To examine the relationship between skin carotenoids, self-reported fruit and vegetable intake, and diet quality among food pantry clients who were predominantly Hispanic/Latinx.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited adults (aged > 18 years) who were members of two food pantries in the Bronx and Upper West Side, NYC between March and August 2023. Skin carotenoid levels were captured using the Veggie Meter (range 0 - 800); the average of three assessments was used in the analysis. Daily fruit and vegetable (FV) cup equivalents (CupEqv) were calculated using the 10-item FV Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ). The 2015 Healthy Eating Indexes (HEI, range 0 - 100) were calculated using the Nutrition Data System for Research, based on one or two 24-hour diet recalls denoting diet quality. The average of two diet recalls was used in the analysis, when available. Pearson and Spearman correlations were conducted to assess the associations between skin carotenoids, FV CupEqv, and HEI.

Results: A total of 125 participants were included in the analysis (77.6% female, aged 54.6 ± 15.3 years, 27.9 kg/m2). Most (n = 97, 76.1%) of participants identified as Hispanic/Latinx. The average Veggie Meter score was 311.6 ± 113.1. The average FV CupEqv was 2.32 ± 0.88. Ninety participants (72.0%) completed at least one diet recall, and 76 (60.8%) completed both. The average total HEI, total fruits HEI, and total vegetables HEI were 62.0 ± 11.52, 3.09 ± 1.75, and 3.71 ± 1.36, respectively. The Veggie Meter score was associated with the total HEI (r = 0.30, p = 0.005) and total fruits HEI (r = 0.24, p = 0.02), but not total vegetables HEI (r = 0.10, p = 0.36). FV CupEqv was not correlated with total HEI (r = 0.11, p = 0.29), total fruits HEI (r = 0.20, p = 0.07), total vegetables HEI (r = - 0.09, p = 0.41), nor Veggie Meter score (r = 0.12, p = 0.19).

Conclusions: The results offer insights into FV intake among predominantly Hispanic/Latinx urban food pantry clients. Discrepancies observed between dietary outcomes and skin carotenoids suggest a need to carefully examine self-report dietary information. Additionally, validation studies using serum carotenoid levels might be needed to further investigate the validity and reliability of Veggie Meter in a population that is racially or ethnically diverse and with low income.

Funding Sources: Cornell University