Dataset Information

Association between Skin Carotenoid Score Measured with Veggie Meter^® and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents from Southern Italy.

ABSTRACT: The Veggie Meter^® (Longevity Link Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT, USA), is a new portable device for the non-invasive and rapid detection of skin carotenoid content, which represents an acceptable biomarker for the evaluation of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. FVs are important components of a healthy diet, including the Mediterranean Diet (MD), which is a plant-based dietary pattern. Here, we evaluated the adherence to the MD via the administration of two online food questionnaires, and we measured the skin carotenoid content using the Veggie Meter^® in a cohort of 498 healthy adolescents (233 males and 265 females) from Southern Italy. Using KIDMED and the MD Pyramid tests to assess the adherence to the MD, we found an average adherence (5.43 ± 2.57 and 7.20 ± 1.93, respectively) to the MD in our sample population. Moreover, we observed that the skin carotenoid score was 364.75 ± 98.29, which was within the normal range and inversely related to the BMI (r = -0.1461, p = 0.0011). Similar results were observed when the population was categorized by sex. Interestingly, we demonstrated, for the first time, a positive correlation between the carotenoid score and the adherence to the MD assessed using both the KIDMED and MD Pyramid tests in the total population (r = -0.2926, p < 0.0001 and r = -0.1882, p < 0.0001, respectively). The same direct correlation was found in adolescents according to their sex. Our findings highlight the potential of the Veggie Meter^® as a feasible and promising tool for evaluating adherence to the MD and, ultimately, to promote healthy eating habits among adolescents.

SUBMITTER: Caparello G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10707776 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Association between Skin Carotenoid Score Measured with Veggie Meter<sup>®</sup> and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents from Southern Italy.

Caparello Giovanna G Groccia Giovanni Dongionny GD Ceraudo Fabrizio F Cesario Mirko M Bonofiglio Renzo R Augimeri Giuseppina G Bonofiglio Daniela D

Nutrients 20231125 23

The Veggie Meter<sup>®</sup> (Longevity Link Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT, USA), is a new portable device for the non-invasive and rapid detection of skin carotenoid content, which represents an acceptable biomarker for the evaluation of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. FVs are important components of a healthy diet, including the Mediterranean Diet (MD), which is a plant-based dietary pattern. Here, we evaluated the adherence to the MD via the administration of two online food questionnaires ...[more]

PMID: 38068778

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Project description:Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been the focus of major attention due to their potential effects on human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the intake of UPFs in a sample of southern Italian individuals and assess its relationship with nutrient profile and dietary quality parameters. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1936 individuals older than 18 years randomly selected from the general population. A total of 110 food times have been categorized based on the level of processing using the NOVA classification. The average daily energy intake of the sample was 2091.1 kcal, 38.7% of which were from the NOVA group of unprocessed/minimally processed foods, 5.7% from processed culinary ingredients, 38.3% from processed foods, and 17.9% from the UPFs group. UPFs were more consumed among young, unmarried individuals, with high cultural level, smokers, and often eating out of home. The mean energy share of UPFs varied from 6.3% of total daily energy intake for individuals in the lowest quintile of UPF consumption to 34.2% for those in the upper quintile. Within the UPF group, the highest energy contribution was provided by fast foods and sweets. Compared to the lowest quintile of UPF consumption, individuals in the highest quintile consumed, on average, additional 300 kcals per day and less fiber. Some plant-derived vitamins, such as vitamin A and vitamin C showed an inverse trend toward increasing shares of UPF consumption, while sodium intake increased. A significant higher intake of UPFs in individuals meeting the European and Italian dietary recommendations for carbohydrates, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and vitamin E was found, while UPFs were less consumed among those meeting the recommendations for total fats, fiber, sodium, potassium, and vitamin C. Finally, individuals displaying a "healthier" dietary profile, such as higher adherence to either the Mediterranean diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, the Alternate Diet Quality Index, and the Diet Quality Index-International, consumed less UPFs and more unprocessed/minimally processed foods, with minor variation in the other NOVA food categories. In conclusion, consumption of UPF in southern Italy is in line with those reported in some other Mediterranean countries, although it negatively impacted the nutrient profile. It is important to monitor the consumption of UPFs before their availability and popularity put the grounds on younger generations' dietary habits.

Dataset Information

Association between Skin Carotenoid Score Measured with Veggie Meter^® and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents from Southern Italy.

Publications

Association between Skin Carotenoid Score Measured with Veggie Meter<sup>®</sup> and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents from Southern Italy.

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Dataset Information

Association between Skin Carotenoid Score Measured with Veggie Meter® and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents from Southern Italy.

Publications

Association between Skin Carotenoid Score Measured with Veggie Meter<sup>®</sup> and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents from Southern Italy.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets

Association between Skin Carotenoid Score Measured with Veggie Meter^® and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents from Southern Italy.