title: Effect of fruit and vegetable intake on skin carotenoid detected by non-invasive Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiologic studies found the inverse correlation between fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, various cancers, insulin resistance, and other chronic conditions. Skin carotenoid levels are highly correlated with serum levels; however, the direct measurement of skin carotenoids is difficult to perform. Raman spectroscopy has been described as a highly sensitive, specific and accurate method of skin carotenoid detection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors assessed the relation between fruit and vegetable intake and skin carotenoid levels measured by Raman spectroscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine healthy volunteers were enrolled in the present study. Demographic data and fruit and vegetable intake were recorded. Skin carotenoid levels were measured by Raman spectroscopy and were reported as Skin Carotenoid Score (SCS). The data were compared and were reported as 3 groups based on the amounts of fruit and vegetable intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences of age, body weight, height and body mass index among the groups. Mean skin carotenoid score of low fruit and vegetable intake (25,733 +/- 2,956) was significantly lower than SCS of moderate intake (31,333 +/- 4,792, p = 0.03) and high fruit and vegetable intake (35,125 +/- 6,081, p < 0.01). Mean SCS of underweight participants (29,250 +/- 4,621) was not significantly different from normal (33,384 +/- 6,614) and overweight participants (27,575 +/- 3,811), p = 0.06.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using Raman spectroscopy, the authors found that skin carotenoid levels were directly correlated with the degree of fruit and vegetable intakes. We suggest that Raman spectroscopy should be possible to replace the invasive chemical technique for the dermatologic carotenoid measurement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center, Ongkaruck, Nakorn Nayok, Thailand. sanguansak_r@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sanguansak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rerksuppaphol
authors.forename: Lakkana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rerksuppaphol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids