Inverse relationship between serum carotenoid levels and obesity prevalence in children and adolescents: a nationwide cross-sectional analysis
Abstract Objective Our study aimed to investigate the link between serum carotenoids and obesity in a large, representative children and adolescents. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–2018. The impact of individu...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05983-0 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Objective Our study aimed to investigate the link between serum carotenoids and obesity in a large, representative children and adolescents. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–2018. The impact of individual exposure to six serum carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, combined lutein/zeaxanthin, and total lycopene) on adiposity measures, including BMI and obesity, was assessed through survey-weighted logistic and linear regression models. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was adopted to estimate the effect of exposure to a combination of six serum carotenoids on adiposity measures. Results Our study included 1,329 child and adolescent participants (mean age 12.84 years, 50.11% male). The overall mean BMI was 22.03 kg/m² (SE = 0.16), with 324 participants (24.39%) classified as obese. After adjusting for potential confounders, higher levels of all serum carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and combined lutein/zeaxanthin) except lycopene were associated with lower BMI and prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents. In addition, there was a negative correlation between the combination of all six carotenoids and BMI (β=-1.56, 95% CI: -1.95, -1.16, P < 0.01) and obesity (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.60, P < 0.01), with β-carotene having the greatest weighting in body mass index and prevalence of obesity, 0.708 and 0.709. Conclusions Our study provides evidence that serum carotenoids, in particular β-carotene, may be associated with a lower prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents. |
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| ISSN: | 1471-2431 |