Observational Validation of Skin Carotenoid Biomarker of Infant and Toddler Carotenoid Intake

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how carotenoids, natural pigments found in colorful fruits and vegetables, relate to young children's nutrition and health, focusing especially on their visual development. This observational study aims to better understand the connection between carotenoid intake, levels in the skin and blood, and visual function in healthy infants and toddlers from 4 to 24 months old. The study is supported by Baylor College of Medicine and addresses the lack of precise ways to measure children's nutrient intake. The study follows infants and toddlers over six visits between 4 and 24 months of age. At each visit, researchers will collect information about the child's recent diet from guardians, measure body size, take blood samples to measure serum carotenoid concentrations, and use noninvasive optical devices to assess skin carotenoid levels. The research will also include tests of visual sharpness and contrast sensitivity to explore links between carotenoids and visual function. Participants will attend six visits during which diet, body measurements, blood, and skin carotenoid levels are regularly assessed alongside visual tests. Researchers will track skin carotenoid scores at each age milestone to validate the skin measurement as a biomarker of dietary intake. The study will monitor how carotenoid intake relates to visual contrast sensitivity, aiming to understand early nutrition’s role in visual development. Participation continues until 24 months of age, with all procedures designed to support young children's health and development.

Baylor Infant and Toddler Biomarker of Nutrition Study