Carotenoids Intake and Skin Carotenoids Level in Asthmatic Thai Children

Background: The prevalence of asthma is a phenomenon dramatically increasing worldwide. Several antioxidant nutrients including carotenoids have been described to inversely correlate with asthma. The majority of studies quantify carotenoids in relation to the amount of food intake rather than direct measurement of tissue carotenoids.

Objective: The study aims to assess carotenoids intake and skin carotenoids levels in asthmatic children compared to control group.

Methods: A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted in 423 schoolchildren, aged 3.5-17.8 years, in one school at Ongkaluck district, a rural region in central Thailand. Asthmatic children were diagnosed accordingly to Health Interview for Asthma Control questionnaire. Skin carotenoids level was measured with Raman spectroscopy. Demographic data were obtained by directly interviewing children and their parents, whereas anthropometric parameters were measured by trained staff. The intakes of carotenoids were evaluated by a food frequency questionnaire. Pearson chi-squared test and Student’s t-test were used to compare categorical and continuous variables between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children, respectively. Correlations between skin carotenoids level and carotenoids intake were measured by Pearson’s correlation test.

Results: Seventy three children (17.3%) had diagnosed asthma. There were no significant differences in term of anthropometric parameters, dietary intakes of α-carotene (904 vs 1,159 mcg/week; P=0.65), β-carotene (5,232 vs 5,189 mcg/week; P=0.60), β-cryptoxanthin (1,028 vs 1,045 mcg/week; P=0.39), lycopene (4,417 vs 4,951 mcg/week; P=0.54), lutein and zeaxanthin (6,077 vs 6,098 mcg/week; P=0.54) between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children. The mean skin carotenoids level was 12,295.6 RU in asthmatic children and 12,529.6 RU in control group (P=0.95). Skin carotenoids level significantly positive correlated with all carotenoids intake in a mild to moderate degrees (r= 0.20-0.42, P<0.05).

Conclusions: Carotenoids intakes and skin carotenoids levels were not associated with of the risk of asthma in Thai children. Skin carotenoids correlated with all carotenoids intake in a mild to moderate degrees. Raman spectroscopy was a useful tool to determine skin carotenoids level.