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Topical Area: Carotenoids and Retinoids

Carotenoids and Retinoids (Poster Session)

(P01-010-23) Changes in Intake and Major Food Sources of Carotenoids Among U.S. Adults Between 2009-2018

Saturday, July 22, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Location: Poster Board 319

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Kijoon Kim, Doctorate

    Adjunct Professor
    University of Connecticut / Sookmyung Women’s University, Korea
    Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Kijoon Kim, Doctorate

    Adjunct Professor
    University of Connecticut / Sookmyung Women’s University, Korea
    Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

  • MM

    Matthew Madore

    University of Connecticut

  • Ock K. Chun, PhD, MPH

    Associate Professor
    University of Connecticut
    Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Disclosure(s):
Kijoon Kim, Doctorate: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Many studies have found that dietary carotenoid intake is associated with a range of health benefits, including reduced risks of chronic diseases, improved eye health, enhanced immune function, reductions in inflammatory markers, and improved skin health. However, there are few studies characterizing major carotenoid sources and intake trends among various population subgroups in the recent decade.

Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify major carotenoid sources and estimate trends in carotenoid intake among subgroups of US adults between 2009 and 2018.

Methods: A total of 22,339 US adults aged 19 years and older in NHANES 2009-2018 were included in this cross-sectional study. Carotenoid intake and major food sources were calculated by linking food consumption data from a 24-hour diet recall to a Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies Database, in addition to the USDA’s National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (Release 28).

Results: Among US adults, mean (SE) dietary carotenoid intake was 9687.1 (158.0) mcg/day, and total carotenoid intake was highest in men, non-smokers, moderate alcohol consumers, supplement users, those with normal BMI (18.5 – 24.9), those with a poverty-income ratio (PIR) ≥1.85, and those with vigorous physical activity than their counterparts (P < 0.05). When carotenoid consumption was adjusted for energy intake, total carotenoid intake was found to be higher among women and increased with age (P < 0.05). Carotenoid intake has gradually decreased over the past decade (P-trend: 0.097), especially in White adults (P < 0.05), males (P-trend: 0.062), those aged 31-50 years (P-trend: 0.087), and those with PIR 1.0-1.3 (P-trend: 0.051). Vitamin A adequacy rates have decreased slightly over the past decade, with decreases in retinol and α-carotene intakes likely driving this reduction. Tomatoes, and tomato products, carrots, spinach were major food sources of carotenoids in US adults’ diets. Over the past decade, the consumption of carrots and tomatoes decreased, while the consumption of lettuce, spinach, and salsa increased.

Conclusions: These findings showed that carotenoid intake varies greatly among subgroups, as did changes in the consumption of major food sources over the past 10 years.

Funding Sources: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.