Obesity and Skin Carotenoid Score in Children from Center–Southern Italian Regions
Childhood obesity represents a public concern worldwide. Evidence indicates that fruits and vegetables (FV) consumed as part of the daily diet reduce the global burden of obesity. Indeed, FV are rich in bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, which exert health benefits as very potent natural an...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Giuseppina Augimeri Giovanna Caparello Fabrizio Ceraudo Francesca Meringolo Ludovica Mazzitelli Maria Vittoria Iovino Giuseppe Morino Daniela Bonofiglio |
| author_facet | Giuseppina Augimeri Giovanna Caparello Fabrizio Ceraudo Francesca Meringolo Ludovica Mazzitelli Maria Vittoria Iovino Giuseppe Morino Daniela Bonofiglio |
| author_sort | Giuseppina Augimeri |
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| description | Childhood obesity represents a public concern worldwide. Evidence indicates that fruits and vegetables (FV) consumed as part of the daily diet reduce the global burden of obesity. Indeed, FV are rich in bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, which exert health benefits as very potent natural antioxidants. Here, we compared the anthropometric characteristics and the skin carotenoid content between two schoolchildren populations from Southern and Central Italy to evaluate their dietary habits. A sample of 121 and 124 schoolchildren from primary schools in Central and Southern Italy, respectively, was recruited. All participants underwent anthropometric measurements and assessment of the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) by the KIDMED questionnaire and the skin carotenoid score by Veggie Meter<sup>®</sup>. The mean body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower in participants from Central Italy than in those from Southern Italy. A significantly higher percentage of overweight and obesity was found in the overall sample from Southern than in Central Italy. The adherence to the MD was in the average range for both populations, with no gender-related differences. The carotenoid score was higher and negatively correlated with BMI in the schoolchildren from Central Italy. In multiple regression analyses, skin carotenoids were positively associated with the consumption of fruit in the entire sample. This study suggests the importance of increasing FV intake, particularly in Southern Italy, as a strategy for preventingof obesity during the whole lifespan. Further studies are essential to better understand the influence of skin carotenoids on different variables and their potential role as indicators of health status in children. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0cd9259fc5ba4f3ebc240a6d9808578f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj-art-0cd9259fc5ba4f3ebc240a6d9808578f2025-08-20T02:17:19ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-04-0114444810.3390/antiox14040448Obesity and Skin Carotenoid Score in Children from Center–Southern Italian RegionsGiuseppina Augimeri0Giovanna Caparello1Fabrizio Ceraudo2Francesca Meringolo3Ludovica Mazzitelli4Maria Vittoria Iovino5Giuseppe Morino6Daniela Bonofiglio7Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, ItalyFondazione Pancrazio, Via Riccardo Misasi, 86, 87100 Cosenza, ItalyFondazione Pancrazio, Via Riccardo Misasi, 86, 87100 Cosenza, ItalyNutrition Unit, Bambino Gesù, Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, ItalyChildhood obesity represents a public concern worldwide. Evidence indicates that fruits and vegetables (FV) consumed as part of the daily diet reduce the global burden of obesity. Indeed, FV are rich in bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, which exert health benefits as very potent natural antioxidants. Here, we compared the anthropometric characteristics and the skin carotenoid content between two schoolchildren populations from Southern and Central Italy to evaluate their dietary habits. A sample of 121 and 124 schoolchildren from primary schools in Central and Southern Italy, respectively, was recruited. All participants underwent anthropometric measurements and assessment of the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) by the KIDMED questionnaire and the skin carotenoid score by Veggie Meter<sup>®</sup>. The mean body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower in participants from Central Italy than in those from Southern Italy. A significantly higher percentage of overweight and obesity was found in the overall sample from Southern than in Central Italy. The adherence to the MD was in the average range for both populations, with no gender-related differences. The carotenoid score was higher and negatively correlated with BMI in the schoolchildren from Central Italy. In multiple regression analyses, skin carotenoids were positively associated with the consumption of fruit in the entire sample. This study suggests the importance of increasing FV intake, particularly in Southern Italy, as a strategy for preventingof obesity during the whole lifespan. Further studies are essential to better understand the influence of skin carotenoids on different variables and their potential role as indicators of health status in children.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/4/448childhood obesityMediterranean Dietskin carotenoid levelsVeggie Meter<sup>®</sup>natural antioxidants |
| spellingShingle | Giuseppina Augimeri Giovanna Caparello Fabrizio Ceraudo Francesca Meringolo Ludovica Mazzitelli Maria Vittoria Iovino Giuseppe Morino Daniela Bonofiglio Obesity and Skin Carotenoid Score in Children from Center–Southern Italian Regions Antioxidants childhood obesity Mediterranean Diet skin carotenoid levels Veggie Meter<sup>®</sup> natural antioxidants |
| title | Obesity and Skin Carotenoid Score in Children from Center–Southern Italian Regions |
| title_full | Obesity and Skin Carotenoid Score in Children from Center–Southern Italian Regions |
| title_fullStr | Obesity and Skin Carotenoid Score in Children from Center–Southern Italian Regions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Obesity and Skin Carotenoid Score in Children from Center–Southern Italian Regions |
| title_short | Obesity and Skin Carotenoid Score in Children from Center–Southern Italian Regions |
| title_sort | obesity and skin carotenoid score in children from center southern italian regions |
| topic | childhood obesity Mediterranean Diet skin carotenoid levels Veggie Meter<sup>®</sup> natural antioxidants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/4/448 |
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