title: Spectroscopic biofeedback on cutaneous carotenoids  as part of a prevention program could be effective  to raise health awareness in adolescents.
abstract: The cutaneous carotenoid concentration correlates with the overall antioxidant status of a person and can be seen as biomarker for nutrition and lifestyle. 50 high school students were spectroscopically measured for their cutaneous carotenoid concentrations initially in a static phase, followed by an intervention phase with biofeedback of their measured values, living a healthy lifestyle and on healthy food this time. The volunteers showed higher carotenoid concentrations than found in previous studies. A significant correlation of healthy lifestyle habits and a high antioxidant status could be determined. Subjects improved their nutritional habits and significantly increased their carotenoid concentration during intervention. Follow-up five months later showed a consolidation of the increase. The investigations show that a healthy diet and a well-balanced lifestyle correlate with a high cutaneous antioxidant concentration and that spectroscopic biofeedback measurement of cutaneous carotenoids as part of an integrated prevention program is a feasible and effective means to raise the health awareness in adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Charite´ – Universita¨tsmedizin Berlin, Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Center of Experimental and Cutaneous Physiology (CCP), Charite´ platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. ruo-xi.yu@charite.de
authors.forename: Ruo-Xi
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Köcher
authors.forename: Maxim E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Darvin
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.forename: Sora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Bich Na
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klotter
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hurrelmann
authors.forename: Martina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Meinke
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lademann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000295:Adolescent Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D016011:Normal Distribution; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D002338:Carotenoids