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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #288430

Title: Skin total carotenoids predict plasma carotenoid levels during a 28-week experimental feeding study with varying levels of vegetables and fruit

Author
item Jahns, Lisa
item Whigham Grendell, Leah
item JOHNSON, LUANN - University Of North Dakota
item MAYNE, SUSAN - Yale University
item CARTMEL, BRENDA - Yale University
item ERMAKOV, IGOR - University Of Utah
item GELLERMANN, WERNER - University Of Utah

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/3/2012
Publication Date: 4/9/2013
Citation: Jahns, L.A., Whigham Grendell, L.D., Johnson, L.K., Mayne, S.T., Cartmel, B., Ermakov, I., Gellermann, W. 2013. Skin total carotenoids predict plasma carotenoid levels during a 28-week experimental feeding study with varying levels of vegetables and fruit. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference. 27:230.7.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Objective biomarkers are needed to assess adherence to vegetable and fruit intervention trials. This study compared plasma carotenoid concentrations to non-invasive skin carotenoid assessments. Thirty participants consumed a low-carotenoid diet (6 wk, Phases 1 & 3), a provided diet containing 6 c/day vegetables and fruit (8 wk, Phase 2) and their usual diet (final 8 wks, Phase 4). Skin was measured 5x/wk during Phase 2 and at least 2x/wk for the duration. Plasma carotenoids were measured at baseline and mid and end of each phase. Skin and plasma carotenoid levels decreased (p<0.01) by a third from baseline to end of phase 1, then increased (p<0.01) over 300% at end of phase 2. Plasma carotenoids returned to baseline concentrations at the end of phase 3 and skin carotenoid levels by end of phase 4. At baseline, skin and plasma total carotenoid values were significantly correlated (p <0.01). Skin carotenoid status significantly predicted plasma values using a mixed linear model including all 9 time points (p < 0.001), indicating that changes in skin carotenoid status closely follow changes in plasma across a broad range of intakes. At the individual level, skin carotenoids predicted plasma values as strongly (p < 0.001). This study supports the use of skin carotenoid status as an objective indicator for interventions involving carotenoids or fruit/vegetable intake. Support: USDA-ARS