Carotenoid Levels and Correlating Health Composite Scores in USU Wellness Expo Participants

1. Carotenoid Levels and Correlating Health Composite Scores in USU Wellness Expo Participants Jane Bradshaw, McKinsey Wilson, Bailee Whitworth, Elizabeth Higham, Allie Henrie, Angelee Hancey, Ashley Brine, Ashley Lee, Brianna Hardisty, Chelsee Bybee, Laura Watkins, Raulon Van Tassell, Sheryl S. Aguilar INTRODUCTION Health and Wellness Fairs are increasing in popularity and allow healthcare professionals to educate the general public, and even conduct studies in a more captivating and informative setting. Each year, the Utah State University (USU) Wellness Expo provides students, staff and faculty at Utah State University an opportunity to learn more about how to improve their current health and well-being. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables (FV) have been linked to decreased risk of chronic diseases (1). Carotenoids can be found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as spinach and beets and have been shown to have protective effects against cancer and heart disease as well as improve eye health and protect against macular degeneration. Measuring skin carotenoid using a method known as Ramen Spectrometry provides an objective estimate of intake of FV (2). Our objectives among participants of the USU Wellness Expo were to: 1) examine associations between indicators of health, including self-reported FV intake, and skin carotenoid concentrations and 2) examine associations between FV intake and scanner score. We hypothesized that participants with higher health composite scores would have higher skin carotenoid levels. We also predicted that those with higher intake of FV would have higher skin carotenoid levels. • METHODS • Didactic dietetic students recruited USU students (n=72), faculty/staff (n=49), and general public (n=15) that attended the USU Health Expo in January, 2014 to participate in this study. The study was reviewed and approved by USU Institutional Review Board. Participants were assigned an ID number, asked to complete an online survey about health habits, had their height (cm) and weight (kg) taken using a portable stadiometer and digital scale, respectively, and had their skin carotenoids measured. Skin carotenoids were measured on the palm of the right hand using one of three BioPhotonic Scanners™. Each participant’s palm was scanned twice and if the scanners scores had a difference of greater than 2,000 between them, then a third scanner score was taken for accuracy. The two scores that were within 2,000 counts were averaged for the Scanner Score. • Health status was identified by sorting participants into one of three groups (healthy, somewhat healthy, and unhealthy) based upon six criteria: fruit and vegetable intake, BMI, weekly exercise, how many times participants get sick per year, self-perceived health and if the participants had been diagnosed with a chronic disease. BMI was calculated using measured height and weight. Participants were given a score from 0 to 5 for: fruit and vegetable intake, BMI, weekly exercise, and sick times per year. A score of 1 to 4 was given for self-rated health and a score of 0 or 2 was given whether the participants had a chronic disease or not, respectively. Scores totaling 20 to 26 were considered healthy (75-100%), 14-19 as somewhat healthy (50-75%), and 13 (50%) or less as unhealthy. • Descriptive statistics including ANOVA were used to examine differences of the study population and to compare means across subgroups (age, gender, race, status, and BMI). Health Scores were compiled and, using ANOVA, the association between Health Scores and Scanner Scores were assessed. In addition, FV intake was grouped by low, medium and high intake and compared to Scanner Scores. The Tukey post hoc test was used to determine significant differences between groups. • RESULTS • Participants in the lowest health score group had significantly lower Scanner Scores than participants in the highest health score group (p=.03). • Participants in the lowest FV group had significantly lower Scanner Scores than participants in the highest FV group (p=.02). • Average Scanner Score for BMI of 18.5-24.9 was significantly higher than for BMI of 30 and above (p=.03). CONCLUSIONS Skin carotenoids measured by the BioPhotonic scanner were associated with a composite health score, and separately to self-reported FV intake. Leaner participants had higher Scanner Scores and Health Scores. Skin carotenoid levels may have potential as a useful biomarker of overall health status as rated by this simple health scoring tool in this population of adults. References: 1) Deming DM, Boileau T W-M, Heintz KH, et al. Carotenoids: Linking chemistry, absorption, and metabolism to potential roles in human health and disease. In: Cadenas E, Packer L, ed. Handbook of Antioxidants. New York: Basel:Marcel-Dekker; 2002: 189-221. 2) Scarmo S, Henebery K, Peracchio H, Cartmel B, Lin H, Ermakov IV. Skin carotenoid status measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy as a biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake in preschool children. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012;66(5):555-560. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.31.