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Session: Carotenoids and Retinoids (Oral 8)

(OR08-03-23) Macular Pigment Optical Density and Skin Carotenoids in a Midwestern Childhood Sample

Sunday, July 23, 2023
10:24 AM – 10:36 AM ET
Location:  Commonwealth
Disclosure(s):
Shelby A. Keye, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Laura M. Rosok, BS, BM: Egg Nutrition Center: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Objectives: Carotenoids are plant pigments with light filtering and antioxidant properties that deposit in various human tissues, including retina and skin. Characteristics and covariates of carotenoid status in macula and skin have been examined in adults; however, similar studies in children are limited. Thus, this study aimed to describe macular and skin carotenoid values in a large midwestern sample of children and examine how demographic factors, weight status, and carotenoid intake relate to carotenoid biomarkers in children.

Methods: Children (7-13y, N=375) completed heterochromatic flicker photometry to assess macular pigment optical density (MPOD). Participants underwent anthropometrics to measure weight status (BMI percentile [BMI%]) and parent/guardian provided demographic information. Subsample data were available for skin carotenoids (N=181), assessed using reflection spectroscopy, and dietary carotenoids (N=101) using the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Results: The mean MPOD was 0.56 ± 0.22 and skin carotenoid score was 281.7 ± 94.6. There was no significant correlation between MPOD and skin carotenoids (r=0.02, p=0.42), controlling for BMI% and race. BMI% was negatively associated with skin (β=-0.31, p < 0.001), but not macular carotenoids. Neither MPOD nor skin carotenoids were associated with age, sex, or race (all r's < 0.14, p’s > 0.1). MPOD was positively associated with energy adjusted lutein+zeaxanthin (L+Z; β=0.19, p=0.028), α-carotene (β=0.18, p=0.036), β-carotene (β=0.25, p=0.007), lycopene (β=0.27,p=0.003) and total carotenoid intake (β=0.30,p < 0.001). Skin carotenoids were positively associated with energy adjusted L+Z (β=0.17, p=0.041), α-carotene (β=0.38, p < 0.001), β-carotene (β=0.36, p < 0.001), cryptoxanthin (β=0.20, p=0.024) and total carotenoid intake (β=0.27, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The mean MPOD values were higher than what has been reported previously in midwestern adult populations. Although no relation was found between macular and skin carotenoids, they shared similar dietary carotenoid correlates; however, skin carotenoids may be more susceptible to the negative influence of higher weight status.

Funding Sources: NIH (5R01HD097332; R01HD055352; R01HD069381), USDA (2011-67001-30101), Abbott Nutrition, Center for Nutrition, Learning, and Memory, Danone Research, and Egg Nutrition Center