Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
09:35
Measurement of Carotenoids in Perifovea using the Macular Pigment Reflectometer
Published on: January 29, 2020
Skin Carotenoid Status and Diet Quality in Professional Rugby League Players: An Exploratory Longitudinal Study
Jessame Stepto1, Alana Francis2, Karen Charlton3,4
1School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
Nutrients
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Skin carotenoid status may reflect diet quality in elite athletes, with significant associations found mid-season. Non-invasive tools like the Veggie Meter® show promise for assessing athlete nutrition and diet quality.
Area of Science:
- Sports Nutrition
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Dietary Assessment
Background:
- Diet quality is crucial for athlete health and recovery.
- Practical dietary assessment methods for elite athletes are limited.
- This study explores skin carotenoid status as a proxy for diet quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between skin carotenoid status and diet quality in male professional National Rugby League (NRL) players.
- To assess the feasibility of using non-invasive tools for monitoring athlete nutrition.
Main Methods:
- Skin carotenoids measured using the Veggie Meter® at three time points (pre-, mid-, end-season).
- Diet quality assessed via 24-hour recalls and scored using the Healthy Eating Index for Australian Adults 2013 (HEIFA-2013).
- Pearson correlations and linear mixed models analyzed the data.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation between carotenoid status and HEIFA-2013 score was observed mid-season (r = 0.451, p = 0.012).
- Correlations at pre- and end-season did not reach statistical significance.
- No significant differences in mean carotenoid or HEIFA-2013 scores were found across the NRL season.
Conclusions:
- Skin carotenoid status may offer insights into diet quality in elite athletes.
- The Veggie Meter® shows potential as a complementary tool for dietary assessment in sports.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to validate these findings.
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