Can an increase in fruit and vegetable intake improve/change your skin colour and appearance?
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN86297454 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN86297454 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 05/10/2013
- Registration date
- 20/11/2013
- Last edited
- 28/01/2019
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Regular consumption of fruit and vegetables has been linked to a decrease in a number of long-term conditions such as obesity, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) (heart disease) and some cancers. Despite the beneficial effects of eating fruit and vegetables, the majority of the Australian population are not meeting the current recommended servings. In New South Wales (NSW), only 10% of young adults eat adequate amounts of vegetables and 50% do not eat enough fruit. There are several reasons such as sensory appeal, habit, cost, availability, time constraints, peers and social interactions, highlighting that it is a complex process. Various approaches have been tried to increase fruit and vegetable intake amongst the adult population. Although these are effective to some extent, more research or other strategies are required. Recent studies have investigated the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on skin colour. Skin colour is influenced by three key pigments: haemoglobin, melanin and carotenoids. Carotenoid pigments are found in skin layers and contribute to normal human skin colour. These yellow-red pigments can only be obtained from vegetables and fruit. A recent study investigated the dietary effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on skin colour appearance. The study found that changes in fruit and vegetable consumption were significantly correlated with skin redness and yellowness after 6 weeks. If the consumption of fruit and vegetables can influence carotenoid levels that lead to skin colour change this in turn may improve the appearance of healthy skin colour and overall health. The beneficial effects on appearance thus may influence individuals who are motivated by appearance, typically adolescents and younger adults, to make changes to their diet and to increase their fruit and vegetable intake. The aim of this study is to find out if an intake of high carotenoid fruit and vegetables for four weeks improves skin colour appearance.
Who can participate?
Women aged 18-30 years with low fruit and vegetable intake can participate in this study.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Every week for 4 weeks one group will receive a box of fruit and vegetables that are high in dietary carotenoids, and the other group will receive a box of fruit and vegetables that are low in dietary carotenoids. The box is equivalent to seven servings a day and participants are asked to consume the fruit and vegetables that are provided. In addition they need to collect the fruit and vegetables from the university each week. They are asked to attend four measurement sessions at the University of Newcastle Nutrition & Dietetics Anthropometry lab. They have a blood test at each assessment, which requires them to fast overnight, and they will complete an online questionnaire before the assessment session about them, their health, their skin type and their perception on appearance. Following a 2-week break the groups will swap over and receive the alternative fruit and vegetable box every week for 4 weeks. Participants are asked to refrain from using any tanning lotions, creams or sunbathing during the study.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants will receive information on their body composition, blood pressure, fruit and vegetable intake, and skin carotenoid and melanin levels. They will also receive a $25 gift voucher for participating in the study to cover travel costs. They will receive a weekly complementary fruit and vegetable box for 8 weeks. Blood collection may cause some individuals to feel light headed, faint or experience some bruising at the site of the blood collection. Breakfast will be provided after measurements and blood collection has taken place. Participants may experience some discomfort from having their blood pressure taken. The spectrophotometer used to measure skin carotenoids is safe and involves pressing the device to the skin surface to measure the level of carotenoid and melanin compounds that are in the skin. All other measures in the study use standard tools that have been widely used in research. Some questions in the online survey and questionnaires are of a sensitive nature (e.g. requesting information about prescribed medication, acne, feelings about your personal appearance and the questions in relation to the photographs). All information collected will be kept confidential and names will not be stored alongside responses.
Where is the study run from?
The University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus, Australia.
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in October 2013 and is expected to run until April 2014.
Who is funding the study?
The University of Newcastle (Australia).
Who is the main contact?
Professor Clare Collins
clare.collins@newcastle.edu.au
Contact information
Scientific
HA12 Hunter Building
University drive
Callaghan
2308
Australia
| Phone | +61 2 49469610 |
|---|---|
| clare.collins@newcastle.edu.au |
Study information
| Study design | Randomised 4-week cross-over trial with a 2-week washout |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Other |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Impact of high versus low carotenoid intakes from vegetables and fruit on skin colour and appearance: a randomised cross-over trial |
| Study objectives | It is hypothesised that an increased consumption of high carotenoid fruit and vegetables will be associated with a significantly greater increase in skin yellowness compared to increased consumption of low carotenoid fruit and vegetables. The null hypothesis is that there will be no difference between the groups. |
| Ethics approval(s) | The University of Newcastle Human Research Ethic Committee; initial approval 11/10/2012; variation approved 09/09/2013; ref: H-2012-0338 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Young women from the general population not following any dietary restriction due to medical conditions |
| Intervention | Participants will be required to be in the study for 11 weeks. There will be two interventions phases (4 weeks each) and a 2-week washout period. In phase 1 the participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of the two interventions: a weekly fruit and vegetable box. Box 1: High in carotenoids Or Box 2: Low in carotenoids The box will contain a total of two servings of fruit and five servings of vegetables per day (including tinned products and sauces). There will be a two-week wash-out period (half life of carotenoids). In phase 2, participants will cross-over and receive the alternative fruit and vegetable box. In both intervention phases, the participants will be blinded as to what level of carotenoids the fruit and vegetable boxes contain, the boxes will be identified as Box 1 or Box 2. During each of the two intervention phases, participants will be required and encouraged to consume the fruit and vegetables that are provided to them. Participants will be required to abstain from using any tanning products, lotions/sprays or sunbathing for the 11-week period, because this will have an impact on their skin colour and the results. Participants will be required to attend the Nutrition and Dietetics Anthropometry lab in the Hunter Building (HC57) during week 1, 5, 7, 11 in which the following measurements will be taken: 1. Height, weight, body composition (fat mass and fat free mass), blood pressure 2. Have a blood test at each assessment, in which we will require you to fast overnight 3. Have a photograph of the face taken 4. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) on eating habits and 24-hour recall and quality of life (QoLSF12) survey 5. Skin carotenoid and melanin measurements taken on the skin at shoulders, arms, face, hand, foot sole and hip using a spectrophotometer to measure carotenoids in the skin 6. Complete an acceptability evaluation survey in weeks 5 and 11 The fruit and vegetable consumption tests periods are 2 x 4-week periods (week 1 to 4 and weeks 7 to 10). |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Skin carotenoid content as measured by spectrophotometer. Time point: Baseline, Week 5. Week 7 and Week 11 |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Plasma carotenoids: fasting blood sample (2 x 2 ml ETDA), time point: baseline, week 5, week 7 and week 11 2. Daily fruit and vegetable intake: 2.1. Australian Eating Survey 2010, 137-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, time points: baseline, week 5, week 7 and week 11 2.2. 24-hour recall, time points: baseline, week 5, week 7 and week 11 3. Quality of life (SF12), time points: baseline, week 5, week 7 and week 11 |
| Overall study start date | 01/10/2013 |
| Completion date | 01/04/2014 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 30 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Target number of participants | 30 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Females aged 18-30 years 2. Low fruit and vegetable consumption (vegetables with evening meal <3-4 per week and <5-6 pieces fruit per week) 3. Able to attend the Callaghan campus on four occasions (baseline and 4 weeks, cross over) 4. Proficient in English 5. Abstain from using tanning/lotions/sprays and sunbathing for 11 weeks |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. BMI <18.5kgm2 2. Current smoker 3. Current eating disorder 4. Liver disease 5. Special diet: Coeliac, Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols (FODMAPS), low fibre diet 6. Metabolic disorders: type 2 diabetes, hypertension/hypotension, renal disease 7. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) 8. Gastrointestinal tract disease 9. Currently pregnant or lactating |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/10/2013 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/04/2014 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Australia
Study participating centre
2308
Australia
Sponsor information
University/education
c/o Professor Clare E Collins
School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health and Medicine
HA12 Hunter Building
University Drive
Callaghan
2308
Australia
| Phone | +61 2 49215646 |
|---|---|
| clare.collins@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Website | http://www.newcastle.edu.au/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/00eae9z71 |
Funders
Funder type
University/education
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/08/2016 | 28/01/2019 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
28/01/2019: Publication reference added
