Associations of Fruit & Vegetable Intake with Serum Carotenoids, & Skin Carotenoids Measured with Raman Spectroscopy (RS)

We evaluated the associations of fruit and vegetable intake with both conventionally measured serum carotenoids and skin carotenoids measured by RS. Following approval by the University of Utah IRB, consent was obtained from 320 apparently healthy male and female corporate employees participating in their annual health risk assessment. Skin carotenoids were measured with RS 473nm excitation in a standardized location in the palm of the hand. Blood samples were taken to assess serum nutrients including carotenoids. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed with a modified Block fruit and vegetable food frequency questionnaire (FVFFQ). Co‐variates included BMI, lifestyle behaviors and dietary supplement intake. Pearson correlations and regression analyses revealed similar modest significant correlations with both the FVFFQ composite serving score and a composite serum carotenoid score (r=.21; p=0.0003; n=285) and with the RS skin carotenoid score(r=.28; p<0.0001;n=296). These relationships were independent of supplement intake which had a stronger significant relationship with serum carotenoid levels (r=.52; p<0.0001; n=285) and RS carotenoid levels (r=.48; p<0.0001; n=296). These results indicate RS scanner has potential utility as a rapid screening method that reflects fruit and vegetable intake similar to a FVFFQ as well as serum blood measures, without the risk and time associated with collecting and analyzing blood samples.