Carotenoid Intake and Serum Concentration in Young Finnish Children and Their Relation with Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Abstract

Fruit and vegetable intake has been associated with a reduced risk of many chronic diseases. These foods are the main dietary source of carotenoids. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations between dietary intake and serum concentrations of α- and β-carotene in a sample of young Finnish children from the population-based birth cohort of the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) Study. The current analysis comprised 3-day food records and serum samples from 207 children aged 1, 2 and 3 years. Spearman and partial correlations, as well as a cross-classification analyses, were used to assess the relationship between dietary intake and the corresponding biomarkers. Serum concentrations of α- and β-carotene were significantly higher among the 1-year-old compared to the 3-year-old children. Dietary intakes of α- and β-carotene correlated significantly with their respective serum concentrations in all age groups, the association being highest at the age of 1 year (α-carotene r = 0.48; p < 0.001 and β-carotene r = 0.47; p < 0.001), and lowest at the age of 3 years (α-carotene r = 0.44; p < 0.001 and β-carotene r = 0.30; p < 0.001). A cross-classification showed that 72–81% of the participants were correctly classified to the same or adjacent quartile, when comparing the reported dietary intakes and the concentrations of the corresponding carotenoid in serum. The 3-day food record seems to be reasonably valid in the assessment of root vegetable consumption among young Finnish children. Root vegetables were the main dietary source of both carotenoids in all age groups. The high consumption of commercial baby foods among the 1-year-old children was reflected in the relatively high dietary intake and serum concentration of both carotenoids.

The Validity of Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Intake Using Plasma Vitamins A, C, and E: The SAYCARE Study

“…We found pooled correlation coefficients of 0.29 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.20–0.38) and 0.35 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.26–0.43) for the reported fruit and vegetable daily intake estimated by the FFQ and the MSM, respectively. These findings are comparable to other validity studies assessing fruit and vegetable consumption in children [3,38], and also in adolescents [39]. The MSM showed a slight increase in the correlation coefficients for each plasma biomarker separately, and in the pooled correlation coefficient when compared to the correlations estimated by the FFQ.…”

Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress in Children: Influence of Puberty and Metabolically Unhealthy Status

“…Dietary total antioxidant capacity has been negatively associated to BMI and total body fat only in children and adolescents with obesity [28]. In view of the present findings, the two most straightforward strategies to overcome the increased risk of MU status are weight loss and antioxidant supplementation [19]. Indeed, a weight loss intervention in adolescents was able to increase lipid-corrected β-carotene and α-tocopherol plasma concentrations [52,64] and lead to reduced ox-LDL levels in children with obesity [62].…”

“…Children and adolescents with obesity often follow inadequate diets, characterized by a low intake of fruits and vegetables and high intake of sugars and fats, associated with a negative antioxidant status [17][18][19]. Dietary vitamins such as carotenoids and tocopherols are of great interest as bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties and potential positive effects on adipogenesis, lipid, and glucose metabolisms [20,21], since they are involved in lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation [22].…”

Relation between Dietary Habits, Physical Activity, and Anthropometric and Vascular Parameters in Children Attending the Primary School in the Verona South District

“…From our data, it emerged that both “at risk” groups of overweight/obese children and those with normal-high/high BP values (percentile brachial SBP or brachial DBP >90°) eat less quantity of vegetables with respect to the normal weight or normotensive group at their same age. Many global health programs endorse an increased consumption of plant-based foods because of their inverse association with several chronic disease [39].…”