TABLE 3.
Summary of studies evaluating the relation between spectroscopy-based skin carotenoid measurements and serum or plasma carotenoids in diverse populations (n = 11)1
| Reference | Study design | Population characteristics (n, sex, age) | BMI and race/ethnicity | Type of spectroscopy | Criterion measure | Statistical test | Correlation outcomes | Quality assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernstein et al. (2012) (39) | Cross-sectional | n = 5324 M, 29 F 77.4 ± 7.7 y | N/A | RRS—custom-built scanner | Serum;HPLC | Pearson correlations | SCS and total serum carotenoids: r = 0.47; P = 0.001SCS and (lutein + zeaxanthin): r = 0.18; P = 0.226 | Good |
| Chan et al. (2013) (50) | Prospective cohort | n = 40Age range: <33 wk gestation | Birth weight 500–1500 g | RRS—custom-built scanner | Serum;HPLC | Pearson correlations | SCS and total serum carotenoids: r = 0.44; P = 0.01 | Good |
| Conrady et al. (2017) (61) | Cross-sectional | n = 8839 M, 49 F59 ± 17 y | Caucasian (n = 74), African (n = 1), Asian (n = 1),Hispanic (n = 1),multinational (n = 1),not recorded (n = 10) | RRS—custom-built scanner | Serum;HPLC | Linear regression (exact method not stated) | SCS and total serum carotenoids: r = 0.722; P < 0.01SCS and serum lutein: r = 0.655; P < 0.01SCS and serum zeaxanthin: r = 0.656; P < 0.01 | Good |
| Ermakov et al. (2013) (51) | Cross-sectional | n = 32Age range: 1 d to 6 y | N/A | RRS—custom-built scanner | Serum;HPLC | Linear fit with correlation coefficient | R = 0.75No P value listed in article | Good |
| Ermakov et al. (2018) (62) | Cross-sectional | n = 5424 M, 30 F 54 ± 19 y | Caucasian (n = 53), African American (n = 1) | RS—Veggie Meter® (Longevity Link Corporation) | Serum;HPLC | Linear regression | SCS and total serum carotenoids: r = 0.81; P < 0.001 | Good |
| Gellermann et al. (2005) (40) | Cross-sectional | n = 104 | N/A | RRS—custom-built scanner | Serum;HPLC | Pearson correlations | SCS and total serum carotenoids: r = 0.78; P < 0.001 | Good |
| Henriksen et al. (2013) (41) | Cross-sectional | n = 30Age range: Newborn (48–72 h) | N/A | RRS—custom-built scanner | Serum;HPLC | Pearson correlations | SCS and infant total serum carotenoids: r = 0.39; P = 0.02SCS and maternal total serum carotenoids: r = 0.63; P < 0.001 | Good |
| Jahns et al. (2014) (15) | Single-arm experimental | n = 299 M, 20 F 32.1 ± 2.5 y | BMI = 23.6 ± 0.6Caucasian (n = 28), other (n = 1) | RRS—custom-built scanner | Plasma;HPLC | Pearson correlations | SCS and total plasma carotenoids: r = 0.72; P < 0.001 | Good |
| Perrone et al. (2016) (63) | Prospective cohort | n = 71All FAge range: 38–70 y | BMI = 24.5 ± 3.0 | RRS—NuSkin BioPhotonic Scanner® (Pharmanex) | Plasma; HPLC | Pearson correlations | SCS and plasma lycopene: pre (r = 0.450; P < 0.0001) and post (r = 0.559; P < 0.0001) 5-y dietary intervention period | Good |
| Pezdirc et al. (2016) (28) | Randomized crossover trial | n = 30All F22.0 ± 4.2 y | BMI = 23.4 ± 9.7Caucasian (n = 25), Asian (n = 4), other (n = 1) | CM700D spectrophotometer (Konica Minolta) | Plasma;HPLC | Spearman correlations | SCS and total plasma carotenoids: r = 0.27; P < 0.05SCS and plasma α-carotene: r = 0.29; P < 0.05SCS and plasma β-carotene: r = 0.35; P < 0.001 | Very good |
| Zidichouski et al. (2009) (64) | Cross-sectional | n = 372199 M, 173 F33.4 ± 10.0 y | N/A | RRS—NuSkin BioPhotonic Scanner® (Pharmanex) | Serum;HPLC | Pearson correlations | SCS and total serum carotenoids: r = 0.81; P < 0.001) | Very good |
1
BMI measured in kg/m2. N/A, not available; RRS, resonance Raman spectroscopy; RS, reflection spectroscopy; SCS, skin carotenoid score.