Skin carotenoid status of Black or African American college students correlates with plasma carotenoids and fruit and vegetable intake independent of skin tone

Authors: FARAJI, BAHRAM - Morgan State University; Bukowski, Michael; THOMPSON-JOHNSON, TIFFANY - Morgan State University; KRUSINSKI, LUCAS - Morgan State University; LAWSON GOLDGERG, JESSICA - Morgan State University; BROOKS, CECILY - Morgan State University; SNYDER, SAMANTHA - Morgan State University

Submitted to: International Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2022
Publication Date: 1/17/2022
Citation: Faraji, B., Bukowski, M.R., Thompson-Johnson, T., Krusinski, L., Lawson Goldgerg, J., Brooks, C.M., Snyder, S. 2022. Skin carotenoid status of Black or African American college students correlates with plasma carotenoids and fruit and vegetable intake independent of skin tone. International Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics. 8. Article 161. https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-8171/2022/161.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-8171/2022/161

Interpretive Summary: People who eat more fruits and vegetables (F/V) have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, age-related degenerative disease, obesity, and other diseases. Carotenoids are important bioactive substances found mostly in F/V and are independently associated with positive health outcomes in chronic diseases. The consumption of F/V leads to an increase in the concentration of carotenoids in blood and skin, which makes the measurement of carotenoids in blood and skin a reliable biomarker for fruit and vegetable consumption. Pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy (RS) is an emerging technology for the assessment of skin carotenoid concentrations and F/V intake. Although the technology has existed for a decade, a portable device recently has been designed and marketed to measure skin carotenoid status. However, little is known of its performance, particularly in non-majority populations. The effect of skin pigmentation and melanin on RS readings is unknown. The purpose of this study was to correlate blood and skin carotenoid levels measured by RS in a Black/African American population with varying skin tones and to examine the correlation of these two biomarkers to dietary estimates of carotenoids and F/V intake. The RS skin measurement was determined to be strongly correlated with the measured plasma carotenoid level, and the correlation was not affected by controlling for skin tone at the measurement site. Thus the use of RS instrumentation is appropriate for establish relative skin carotenoid content irrespective of skin tone. The study will help validate non-invasive, portable skin carotenoid measurements. The data from this research will improve public health studies to determine F/V intake by individuals and populations.

Technical Abstract: In this cross-sectional study of 100 Black/African American male and female students in an HBCU, skin carotenoid levels indicated by reflection spectroscopy (RS) Scores measured by Veggie Meter were correlated with total plasma carotenoid concentrations (R=0.621, p<0.001) and there was no effect on the correlation when controlling for skin tone at the fingertip or the inner arm. Multiple linear regression analysis to assess the effect of BMI and percent body fat on the correlation between RS and total plasma carotenoids revealed no effect from BMI and percent body fat. RS Scores were correlated with total carotenoid intake measured by FFQ (R=0.249, p=0.013) and total fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake per day (R=0.327, p=0.001) and the results revealed no effect on the correlations when controlling for skin tone at the fingertip or the inner arm. Total plasma carotenoid levels did not correlate with total carotenoid intake, however, the correlation between total plasma carotenoid levels and total F/V intake per day was weak, but significant (R=0.206, p=0.04).