title: Fruit, Vegetable and Dietary Carotenoid Intakes Explain Variation in Skin-Color in Young Caucasian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: Fruit and vegetables contain carotenoid pigments, which accumulate in human skin, contributing to its yellowness. This effect has a beneficial impact on appearance. The aim was to evaluate associations between diet (fruit, vegetable and dietary carotenoid intakes) and skin color in young women. Ninety-one Caucasian women (Median and Interquartile Range (IQR) age 22.1 (18.1-29.1) years, BMI 22.9 (18.5-31.9) kg/m2) were recruited from the Hunter region (Australia). Fruit, vegetable and dietary carotenoid intakes were estimated by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Skin color was measured at nine body locations (sun exposed and unexposed sites) using spectrophotometry. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between fruit and vegetable intakes and skin yellowness adjusting for known confounders. Higher combined fruit and vegetable intakes (β = 0.8, p = 0.017) were associated with higher overall skin yellowness values. Higher fruit combined fruit and vegetable intakes (β = 1.0, p = 0.004) were associated with increased unexposed skin yellowness. Combined fruit and vegetables plus dietary carotenoid intakes contribute to skin yellowness in young Caucasian women. Evaluation of interventions using improvements in appearance as an incentive for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in young women is warranted.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. kristine.pezdirc@uon.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pezdirc
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. melinda.hutchesson@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Melinda J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hutchesson
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AJ, Scotland, UK. rw394@st-andrews.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AJ, Scotland, UK. go10@st-andrews.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gozde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozakinci
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AJ, Scotland, UK. dp@st-andrews.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perrett
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. clare.collins@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Clare E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D002338:Carotenoids
keywords: dietary carotenoids; fruit; skin color; skin reflectance; vegetables