Reply to Byker Shanks et al. Measurement of Fruit and Vegetable Intake Incorporating a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens. Comment on "Di Noia, J.; Gellermann, W. Use of the Spectroscopy-Based Veggie Meter to Objectively Assess Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Low-Income Adults. 2021, , 2270".

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Relationships between Skin Carotenoid Levels and Metabolic Syndrome.

Carotenoids have potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; their protective roles are of particular interest in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The reflection spectroscopy method has been recently developed to noninvasively measure skin carotenoid (SC) levels, which highly correlates with serum concentration of carotenoids. The relationship between SC levels and metabolic syndrome has been investigated.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin Distribution in the Healthy Macula and Its Association with Various Demographic Factors Examined in Pseudophakic Eyes.

The macular pigment consisting of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) protects photoreceptors via its antioxidative and barrier activities. This study aimed to determine L and Z distribution in the healthy macula and their association with various demographic factors. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was measured using fundus autofluorescence spectroscopy in 352 pseudophakic eyes with no fundus diseases.

Brighter is better: bill fluorescence increases social attraction in a colonial seabird and reveals a potential link with foraging.

Crested auklets () are colonial seabirds with brilliant orange bills during the breeding season. We characterized the bill pigment with spectroscopy methods (resonance Raman, fluorescence, absorbance). We excluded carotenoids as a possible chromophore and showed that the pigment most closely resembles pterins.

Use of the Spectroscopy-Based Veggie Meter to Objectively Assess Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Low-Income Adults.

Reflection spectroscopy is an emerging approach for noninvasively assessing dermal carotenoids as a biomarker of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. This study sought to profile and identify determinants of scores from a reflection spectroscopy device (the Veggie Meter (VM)) among 297 urban, primarily Hispanic low-income adults served by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The repeatability of the scores and bi- and multivariate relationships between VM scores, self-reported FV intake measured by a brief screener, and participant characteristics were examined.

Skin carotenoids are inversely associated with adiposity in breast cancer survivors.

Carotenoids are antioxidants which may mitigate some of the adverse effects of obesity, a condition associated with poor outcomes in breast cancer patients. We hypothesized that baseline skin carotenoids would be inversely associated with adiposity in breast cancer survivors and would increase with weight loss. Skin carotenoid score (SCS) was assessed by resonance Raman spectroscopy in breast cancer survivors (body mass index ≥25 kg/m) enrolled in a 6-month randomized controlled weight loss trial (n = 47).

Effect of an antioxidant supplement containing high dose lutein and zeaxanthin on macular pigment and skin carotenoid levels.

The effect of a high dose lutein/zeaxanthin supplement on macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and skin carotenoid (SC) levels in healthy subjects was investigated. This is a prospective, single-arm, open-label study. Subjects were 16 Japanese, age 26-57 years.

Spatial distribution of macular pigment estimated by autofluorescence imaging in elderly Japanese individuals.

Purpose: To determine the spatial distribution types of macular pigment (MP) in elderly Japanese individuals and to consider their origin.

Study Design: Observational case series.

Methods: Local MP optical density (MPOD) at some eccentricities and MP volume were measured using the MPOD module of a MultiColor Spectralis in 96 pseudophakic eyes of 96 participants (age range, 52-86 years; mean age, 72.

Concurrent validity of skin carotenoid status as a concentration biomarker of vegetable and fruit intake compared to multiple 24-h recalls and plasma carotenoid concentrations across one year: a cohort study.

Background: Biological markers of vegetable and fruit (VF) intake are needed both for nutrition surveillance and for the evaluation of nutrition interventions. Optically assessed skin carotenoid status (SCS) has been proposed as a marker of intake but there are few published validity studies to date. Therefore, the objective of the study was to examine the concurrent validity of multiple methods of assessing VF intake cross-sectionally and seasonally over one year and to discuss the relative merits and limitations of each method.

Skin Carotenoid Index in a large Japanese population sample.

Carotenoids are anti-oxidative agents. Human skin and eyes contain specific carotenoid species known to prevent various pathologies caused by oxidative stress. We quantified skin and eye carotenoid levels and investigated their potential correlation in a population including 985 Japanese patients and staff members of an ophthalmology clinic (577 men, 408 women, mean age of 69.

Grade of Cataract and Its Influence on Measurement of Macular Pigment Optical Density Using Autofluorescence Imaging.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of cataracts on measuring macular pigment optical density (MPOD) using a dual-wavelength confocal scanning autofluorescence imaging technique and to establish methods to compensate for the influence of cataracts.

Methods: This prospective case series comprised 100 eyes that underwent cataract surgery. Cataracts were graded based on the World Health Organization classification.

Optical Detection of Macular Pigment Formation in Premature Infants.

Purpose: To demonstrate the presence of macular pigment in the retina of premature infants, and to examine its changes with age.

Methods: The participants included 40 premature infants. Infants who had received laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity were excluded.

Optical assessment of skin carotenoid status as a biomarker of vegetable and fruit intake.

Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) and reflection spectroscopy (RS) are optical methods applicable to the non-invasive detection of carotenoids in human skin. RRS is the older, more thoroughly validated method, whereas RS is newer and has several advantages. Since collective skin carotenoid levels serve as a biomarker for vegetable and fruit intake, both methods hold promise as convenient screening tools for assessment of dietary interventions and correlations between skin carotenoids and health and disease outcomes.

Reliability of a two-wavelength autofluorescence technique by Heidelberg Spectralis to measure macular pigment optical density in Asian subjects.

This study evaluates the accuracy of an objective two-wavelength fundus autofluorescence technique for the purpose of measuring the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in Asian pigmented eyes. Potential differences between MPOD values obtained via autofluorescence technique and subjective heterochromatic photometry (HFP) were examined. Inter-examiner reproducibility between three examiners and test-retest reliability over five time points were also explored.

Correlations Between Macular, Skin, and Serum Carotenoids.

Purpose: Ocular and systemic measurement and imaging of the macular carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin have been employed extensively as potential biomarkers of AMD risk. In this study, we systematically compare dual wavelength retinal autofluorescence imaging (AFI) of macular pigment with skin resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) and serum carotenoid levels in a clinic-based population.

Methods: Eighty-eight patients were recruited from retina and general ophthalmology practices from a tertiary referral center and excluded only if they did not have all three modalities tested, had a diagnosis of macular telangiectasia (MacTel) or Stargardt disease, or had poor AFI image quality.

Using Skin Carotenoids to Assess Dietary Changes in Students After 1 Academic Year of Participating in the Shaping Healthy Choices Program.

Objective: To determine whether fourth-grade students participating in the Shaping Healthy Choices Program (SHCP), a school-based nutrition intervention, would change vegetable and carotenoid intake measured by skin carotenoids and dietary intake.

Methods: Single-group pretest-posttest with a self-selected, convenience sample of students (n = 30) participating in the SHCP, which lasted 1 academic year (9 months). Dietary intake of vegetables and carotenoids as measured by Block food frequency questionnaire and skin carotenoids as measured by Raman spectroscopy were collected at the school preintervention and postintervention.

MACULAR PIGMENT DISTRIBUTION RESPONSES TO HIGH-DOSE ZEAXANTHIN SUPPLEMENTATION IN PATIENTS WITH MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 2.

Purpose: To analyze macular pigment (MP) amount and distribution in patients with macular telangiectasia Type 2 receiving oral zeaxanthin supplementation in a randomized, open-label, interventional trial.

Methods: Eight macular telangiectasia Type 2 patients were randomized to 10 mg or 20 mg of zeaxanthin per day. At each visit, best-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, fundus biomicroscopy, color fundus photography, autofluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, and serum carotenoid levels were tested.

Changes in Macular Pigment Optical Density and Serum Lutein Concentration in Japanese Subjects Taking Two Different Lutein Supplements.

Purpose: To investigate macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and serum concentration changes of lutein in Japanese subjects participating in a clinical trial in which two formulations of lutein and zeaxanthin supplements with different physiochemical properties are used.

Methods: Thirty-six healthy volunteers were recruited into this prospective, randomized, parallel-group, double-masked comparative study at a single institute. Two products were used, FloraGLO® (Kemin Japan) and XanMax® (Katra Phytochem).

Evaluating the relationship between plasma and skin carotenoids and reported dietary intake in elementary school children to assess fruit and vegetable intake.

Accurate assessment of dietary intake of children can be challenging due to the limited reliability of current dietary assessment methods. Plasma carotenoid concentration has been used to assess fruit and vegetable intake, but this testing is rarely conducted in school settings in children. Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) is emerging as a useful method to objectively assess fruit and vegetable intake.

Optical detection methods for carotenoids in human skin.

Resonance Raman spectroscopy and reflection spectroscopy are non-invasive optical quantitative methods for the measurement of carotenoid antioxidant levels in human skin in vivo. Since all tissue carotenoids are derived from the diet, optical monitoring in skin may serve as an objective indicator for fruit and vegetable intake, and more broadly also as an effective biomarker for integrative health. The two optical methods have already found enthusiastic application in the Nutritional Supplement Industry where they are used with large populations to measure skin carotenoid uptake upon consumption of carotenoid-containing dietary supplements.

Autofluorescence imaging of macular pigment: influence and correction of ocular media opacities.

The healthy adult human retina contains in its macular region a high concentration of blue-light absorbing carotenoid compounds, known as macular pigment (MP). Consisting of the carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, the MP is thought to shield the vulnerable tissue layers in the retina from lightinduced damage through its function as an optical attenuator and to protect the tissue cells within its immediate vicinity through its function as a potent antioxidant. Autofluorescence imaging (AFI) is emerging as a viable optical method for MP screening of large subject populations, for tracking of MP changes over time, and for monitoring MP uptake in response to dietary supplementation.

Skin and plasma carotenoid response to a provided intervention diet high in vegetables and fruit: uptake and depletion kinetics.

Background: Objective biomarkers are needed to assess adherence to vegetable and fruit intervention trials. Blood carotenoids are considered the best biomarker of vegetable and fruit intake, but collecting blood is invasive and the analyses are relatively expensive for population studies. Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) is an innovative method for assessing carotenoids in skin noninvasively.

Effect of age and other factors on macular pigment optical density measured with resonance Raman spectroscopy.

Background: Macular pigment is a defense system against phototoxic damage of the retina by visible light. It is still under debate whether or not macular pigment optical density (MPOD) levels decline with age, because the age effect varied depending on the technique used to measure MPOD levels. Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) is an objective method to measure MPOD, and studies using RRS showed a drastic age-related decline of MPOD levels; however, since RRS measurements are influenced by cataracts, it has been argued that the age-related decline of RRS measurements is an artifact from lens changes in aged subjects.

Optical detection of carotenoid antioxidants in human bone and surrounding tissue.

Carotenoids are known to play an important role in health and disease state of living human tissue based on their antioxidant and optical filtering functions. In this study, we show that carotenoids exist in human bone and surrounding fatty tissue both in significant and individually variable concentrations. Measurements of biopsied tissue samples with molecule-specific Raman spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography reveal that all carotenoids that are known to exist in human skin are also present in human bone.