Title:

Skin carotenoid measures and self-reported fruit and vegetable intake in young adults

Background: Skin carotenoids (SC) have been shown to predict serum carotenoids and increasingly have been incorporated into the research setting as an objective measure of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. To date, existing data using SC across different populations are limited. Further, the relationship of SC to self-reported FV intake has not been well documented. Objective: To examine SC measures in comparison to self-reported FV intake among young adults, 18-24 years old. Study Design/Setting/Participants: Data were collected between 2018-23 from the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey, an ongoing cross-sectional study at a public, northeast land-grant university. Participants are recruited from a general education, introductory nutrition course and represented all majors and class standings at the university. Measurable Outcomes/Analysis: Skin carotenoid scores were measured using the VEGGIE METER® (Longevity Link). Measures were conducted in triplicate and averaged. Self-reported FV intake (average cups/day) were assessed from 3-day food diaries recorded on non-consecutive days then analyzed by online nutrient analysis software (Diet and Wellness+). Differences in SC scores between groups of FV intake (<1, 1-1.99, 2-2.99, 3-3.99, 4-4.99, and ≥5 cups/day) were analyzed using ANCOVA, using % body fat and gender as covariates, as well as post-hoc pairwise comparisons. Results: After exclusion of participants with missing data, the final sample (n=1791) was predominantly white (93.1%), female (61.7%), and first year students (45.4%). Mean intake of FV was 2.6±1.7 cups and mean SC scores was 281.4±90.41. Skin carotenoid scores positively increased with each FV group (244.0±60.5, 256.8±70.9, 270.8±72.6, 301.1±90.6, 328.8±103.3, 374.1±132.2, p<.001); SC scores were significantly different for all FV intake groups except between those who consumed <1 vs. 1-1.99 cups of FV (p=.067). Conclusions: Data supports a positive and linear relationship between SC scores and self-reported FV intake in a sample of college students. Given the ease of use and low subject burden, SC scores are promising tool for objective assessment of FV intake and a useful addition to intervention studies, community, and clinical settings. Funding: New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Project 1010738, and the state of New Hampshire.

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