Skin Carotenoid Accumulation in Response to a Two-Week Sweet Potato Snack Added to the Usual Diet

To evaluate changes in skin carotenoid score (SCS) from baseline, during and following a two-week sweet potato snack added to participant's usual diet. Forty participants were recruited by convenience for 7-week longitudinal cohort study with 1-week period establish baseline SCS, an intervention consisting of fed 3 times/week 2 weeks the lab while consuming diet outside lab, followed 4-week monitoring period. SCS measured 17 times over pressure-mediated reflectance spectroscopy (Veggie Meter). analyzed using linear mixed model (LMM) repeated measures (fixed effects) determine whether increased follow up points post-intervention periods (α = 0.05). Data plotted Loess line visualize change time. Secondary analyses conducted if affected time detect differences post-intervention. Baseline tertiles LMM effects, α Simple least square means calculated each tertile at point. Participants included 28 (72%) females 11 (28%) males 20–62 years who identified themselves as “White” (69.2%), “Asian” (23.1%), “Black/African American” (5.1%), “Other-Latina” (2.6%). Five (12.8%) reported Hispanic ethnicity. Analyses 39 40 original participants, one withdrew first week study. Change mean was significant (P < 0.001). While not significantly higher than 0.271), those The depicted consistent increase day 26 36, approximately after start intervention. across all These data suggest that beginning may be interest when measuring efficacy such Additionally, difference between depend on SCS. This project funded part Indiana University.