Skin Carotenoid Status Over Time and Differences by Age and Sex Among Head Start Children (3–5 Years)

Abstract

ObjectiveExamine differences in skin carotenoid status (SCS) based on time, age, and sex of preschool-aged children enrolled in Head Start (HS) in North Carolina. DesignData were collected using surveys from participating families. preschool-aged children's SCS were measured 3 times over a 6-month period. SettingThree HS centers in North Carolina. ParticipantsOne hundred twelve children aged 3–5 years, enrolled in HS. Main Outcome Measure(s)Differences in SCS assessed using the Veggie Meter (Longevity Link, Salt Lake City, UT) based on time, sex, and age. AnalysisOne-way ANOVA to assess SCS at time 1 between sex and age (n = 112). Repeated measures ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction for assessment of SCS over time (n = 45) using Bonferroni correction. ResultsOn average, children were aged 4 years, African American (81.3%), male (57%), and had a mean SCS of 266 (SD = 82.9). Skin carotenoid status (Veggie Meter units) were significantly different over time (P < 0.001). Significant differences were observed between ages (P = 0.01) and sex (P < 0.01). Conclusions and ImplicationsThe Veggie Meter is a promising tool to assess fruit and vegetable intake but needs to be validated in preschool-aged children as it has been in adults. Sex and age are potential confounders which should be assessed in future studies using the Veggie Meter.