Skin Carotenoids and Relations to Intellectual Abilities and Academic Achievement Among School-Aged Children

OBJECTIVES: Carotenoids are pigments found abundantly in vegetables that accumulate in the human body (i.e., the skin and central nervous system) and can serve as biomarkers for higher diet quality. Skin carotenoids have been previously correlated with cognitive function in adults; however, the relation between skin carotenoids and cognition in children is unknown. This study aimed to assess the link between skin carotenoids and cognitive function in school-aged children. METHODS: Children ages 7–12 (N = 106) participated in a cross-sectional study. Skin carotenoids were measured using reflection spectroscopy. Intellectual abilities and academic achievement were measured using Woodcock-Johnson IV. Dietary carotenoid intake was assessed using the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire and body fat percentage was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Following initial bivariate correlations, a partial spearman correlation was conducted assessing relationships between skin carotenoids and Woodcock-Johnson IV following adjustment of covariates. RESULTS: Skin carotenoids were inversely correlated to body fat percentage and positively associated with household income and dietary carotenoids. Additionally, bivariate correlations revealed that General Intellectual Ability and multiple subtests of achievement were positively related to skin carotenoid status. Following adjustment for body fat percentage, household income, and dietary carotenoids, only quantitate reasoning and broad math skills (applied problems, calculation, and math facts fluency) were positively related to skin carotenoids (rs = 0.24, P = 0.02; rs = 0.225, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Skin carotenoids were positively associated with quantitate reasoning, a form of fluid reasoning, and broad math skills in school-aged children. Although carotenoid status was positively associated with WCJ subsets, these relationships were partially accounted for by household income, child adiposity, and dietary intake. Skin carotenoids were positively related to several cognitive function measures in school-aged children. FUNDING SOURCES: This study was funded by the Egg Nutrition Center.