(P01-001-25) Skin Carotenoids as Biomarkers of Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Obesity-Related Anthropometric Measures

Objectives: Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake has been associated with reduced obesity risk, and skin carotenoid levels (SCL) serve as a non-invasive biomarker of FV consumption. This study aimed to investigate the associations between FV intake, SCL, and obesity-related anthropometric measures, and to evaluate the SCL as a potential marker for obesity.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited adults aged 20–64 years from Connecticut. Participants completed 7-day food records prior to their visit to the study center. Self-reported nutrient and FV intakes were estimated using the Nutrition Data System for Research version 2024. At the study center, SCL was measured using Raman spectroscopy (Samsung Electronics, South Korea) from the right thumb. Height and waist circumference were measured with a stadiometer (Seca, Germany) and a measuring tape, respectively. Weight and percent body fat were assessed using an InBody 770 (InBody, South Korea). Data from 80 participants were analyzed. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between FV intake and SCL. Participants were classified into tertiles of FV intake density or SCL by sex. Generalized linear models were used to compare obesity-related anthropometric measures across tertiles.

Results: FV intake and SCL were positively correlated (r=0.39, P < 0.001). In subgroup analyses by sex, among women, higher FV intake density was significantly associated with lower waist circumference and percent body fat, while higher SCL was associated with lower percent body fat (P < 0.05 for all). These associations were not observed in men.

Conclusions: SCL was significantly correlated with FV intake and showed an inverse association with body fat composition, particularly in women. These findings suggest that SCL could serve as a biomarker not only for FV intake but also for body adiposity, offering a potential tool for assessing diet-related obesity risk.

Funding Sources: This study has been funded by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.