Association between Skin Carotenoid Score Measured with Veggie Meter® and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents from Southern Italy

• DOI: 10.3390/nu15234920
• Publication Date: 2023-11-27T08:35:06Z
• Authors: Giovanna Caparello; Giovanni Dongionn...; Fabrizio Ceraudo; Mirko Cesario; Renzo Bonofiglio; Giuseppina Augimeri; Daniela Bonofiglio
• Keywords: Mediterranean Diet

The Veggie Meter® (Longevity Link Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT, USA), is a new portable device for the non-invasive and rapid detection of skin carotenoid content, which represents an acceptable biomarker evaluation fruit vegetable (FV) intake. FVs are important components healthy diet, including Mediterranean Diet (MD), plant-based dietary pattern. Here, we evaluated adherence to MD via administration two online food questionnaires, measured content using in cohort 498 adolescents (233 males 265 females) from Southern Italy. Using KIDMED Pyramid tests assess MD, found average (5.43 ± 2.57 7.20 1.93, respectively) our sample population. Moreover, observed that score was 364.75 98.29, within normal range inversely related BMI (r = -0.1461, p 0.0011). Similar results were when population categorized by sex. Interestingly, demonstrated, first time, positive correlation between assessed both total -0.2926, < 0.0001 r -0.1882, 0.0001, respectively). same direct according their Our findings highlight potential as feasible promising tool evaluating and, ultimately, promote eating habits among adolescents.