Study Finds Eating Baby Carrots Three Times a Week Boosts Skin Carotenoid Levels in Young Adults

A new study, to be presented at NUTRITION 2024, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, has found that consuming baby carrots as a snack just three times a week significantly increases skin carotenoid levels in young adults. The study also revealed that these phytonutrient levels are further enhanced when baby carrots are paired with a multivitamin containing beta-carotene.

Carotenoids, which are responsible for the bright red, orange, and yellow colors of many fruits and vegetables, can be measured in the skin to gauge fruit and vegetable consumption since diet is the only source of these pigments. Higher levels of skin carotenoids are associated with increased antioxidant protection and a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and certain cancers. This marker also reflects improved skin health and immune function.

In the study, researchers randomly assigned 60 young adults to four groups for a four-week intervention: one group received Granny Smith apple slices (control), another 100 grams of baby carrots, a third a multivitamin supplement with beta carotene, and the fourth a combination of baby carrots and the supplement. Using a VeggieMeter, they measured skin carotenoid levels before and after the intervention.

Results showed a 10.8% increase in skin carotenoid levels in the baby carrot group and a 21.6% increase in the group receiving both baby carrots and the supplement. No significant changes were observed in the control group or the supplement-only group.

"We found that the combination of baby carrots and a multivitamin supplement that contains beta carotene can have an interactive effect on skin carotenoid accumulation. To get a beneficial effect, people should choose a multivitamin that contains beta carotene, and remember to eat baby carrots at least three times a week,” said Mary Harper Simmons, Master of Science in Nutrition student at Samford University.

Reference: Mary Harper Simmons; the Carotenoids and Retinoids in Focus: Insights into Delivery, Vision, and Disease Prevention oral session; American Society for Nutrition