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

Abstract

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. The mean VM score was 270 (range 0–695); 3- and 6-month test-retest correlations were positive and strong (r = 0.79 and 0.55, respectively). VM scores were negatively associated with body mass index (BMI; r = −0.22) and were higher among participants of Ecuadorian, Dominican, and Mexican Hispanic origin relative to those of Puerto Rican origin; foreign- vs. US-born participants, breastfeeding vs. non-breastfeeding participants, nonsmokers vs. smokers, and participants who consumed three or more cups of FV/day relative to those who consumed less than three cups of FV/day. Foreign-born nativity, consumption of three or more cups of FV/day, and smaller body size were determinants of increased VM scores. Although replication studies are needed to confirm these findings, investigators working with similar populations are encouraged to use the VM to longitudinally track FV intake and to target determinants of the scores in observational and intervention studies of FV intake as measured by the VM.

Measuring Skin Carotenoids Using Reflection Spectroscopy in a Low-Income School Setting

“…While dietary intake was only assessed by proxy using the Veggie Meter ® , this was by design, as the Veggie Meter ® has been previously validated against several different criteria [43], and it was critical to determine if it can be successfully implemented in lowincome schools despite the logistical challenges that accompany working in this setting. Overall, this study supports the growing body of literature that suggests that the Veggie Meter ® is an appropriate tool for measuring change in fruit and vegetable consumption by proxy in the school setting, especially in a low-income school setting [24][25][26].…”

“…With these considerations in mind, reflection spectroscopy has emerged as a relatively low-cost, non-invasive, and most-importantly, objective method of detecting changes in dietary behavior, specifically consumption of carotenoid-containing fruits and vegetables [24][25][26][27]. When consumed, carotenoids are deposited in the skin; greater consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with higher amounts of detectable skin carotenoids [28].…”

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Educational Events Are Broadly Accepted and May Increase Knowledge, Self-Efficacy and Behavioral Intentions

“…Contrasts between self-reported FV consumption and objectively measured skin carotenoids suggest that two-item self-report of FV may be inflated in this sample. Each 100 units in the RS score corresponds to approximately one serving of FV consumed per day [47], suggesting that FV intake was somewhat more than 3 cups per day in this sample of FM shoppers. Interpretations of FV consumption should consider this measurement bias.…”

Recommendations for the Use of the Veggie Meter® for Spectroscopy-Based Skin Carotenoid Measurements in the Research Setting

“…It was difficult to acquire precise methodologies because many articles did not state the specific procedures used when operating the device. Because the Current Practices Survey was conducted in the spring of 2020, it should be acknowledged that an updated review of more recently published literature using the Veggie Meter ® was performed, confirming that procedural discrepancies still persisted in more recent literature ( 39 – 50 ). This finding emphasizes the importance of establishing a standardized protocol for the use of the Veggie Meter ® in the research setting to ensure consistency among users moving forward, which will allow for comparisons between studies.…”