Nutrition Knowledge, Food Insecurity, and Dietary Biomarkers: Examining Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among College...

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Biomarkers

Background:

• College students face food insecurity and limited nutrition knowledge, impacting diet quality and fruit/vegetable intake.
• Accurate dietary data collection in research is challenging.
• Carotenoid levels serve as biomarkers for fruit and vegetable consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship between nutrition knowledge and fruit/vegetable intake in university students.
• To utilize skin, plasma, and dietary carotenoid levels as biomarkers.
• To assess the influence of food security on diet quality and nutrition knowledge.

Main Methods:

• 166 university students (18+ years) completed food security and nutrition knowledge questionnaires.
• Dietary quality (HEI-2015) and carotenoid intake were assessed using Diet ID™.
• Skin carotenoid measurements (Veggie Meter®) and plasma carotenoids were collected.

Main Results:

• Higher nutrition knowledge scores correlated with increased plasma carotenoids, HEI scores, and dietary carotenoids.
• Food security status did not affect nutrition knowledge but impacted HEI scores and skin carotenoids.
• Very low food security was associated with poorer diet quality and lower carotenoid levels.

Conclusions:

• Nutrition knowledge is a significant predictor of fruit and vegetable intake among university students.
• Food security status can hinder the positive impact of nutrition knowledge on diet quality.
• Interventions must address food insecurity to effectively improve college student diets.