Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2025

Measurement of Carotenoids in Perifovea using the Macular Pigment Reflectometer
Published on: January 29, 2020
The Associations Between Physical Activity and Skin Carotenoid Levels in a Small Sample of Preschoolers: A Pilot
Faten Hasan1, Damon Swift1, Christopher Kuenze1
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Abstract:
Recent literature proposed an association between physical activity (PA) and carotenoid status due to their overlapping role in mediating oxidative stress. However, this relationship has yet to be explored in young children. This study examined the relationship between objectively measured PA (ActiGraph triaxial accelerometry) and skin carotenoid levels (pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy) in a sample of 3- to 5-years-old. Fourteen children (44 ± 7 months old, 71% male) from a single child care center were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Linear regression modeling indicated more time spent in PA was associated with higher skin carotenoid scores (β = 3.448, p = 0.032). These findings from our pilot study indicate a potential cross-sectional link between physical activity and carotenoid status in young children.
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