Want to eat more vegetables? Eating carrots as a snack might help

Eating baby carrots three times a week was enough to see benefits

Researchers found that consuming baby carrots (BC) three times a week significantly increased skin carotenoid content in young adults. The effect was even stronger when the carrot snacks were combined with a multivitamin containing beta-carotene (MVMM).


CHICAGO (June 30, 2024) – A new study finds that simply eating baby carrots as a snack three times a week significantly increased skin carotenoid levels in young people. Combining this healthy snack with a multivitamin containing the carotenoid beta-carotene further increased levels of these phytonutrients. Carotenoids, which are responsible for the bright red, orange, and yellow color of many fruits and vegetables, can be measured in the skin to determine fruit and vegetable intake, as diet is the only source of these pigments.

The researchers found that carotenoid levels in the skin increased significantly compared to pre-intervention levels by 10.8% in the group that received baby carrots and 21.6% in the group that received carrots. Skin carotenoid levels did not change in the control group or in the group that received only the preparation.


Because taking a multivitamin alone did not increase carotenoid accumulation, differences in carotenoid absorption may occur depending on whether carotenoids are consumed from food or supplements. The researchers would like to investigate the mechanisms behind these results and examine the influence of other foods rich in carotenoids, such as sweet potatoes and green and yellow vegetables.

Dr. Simmons will present this study in an oral session, "Carotenoids and Retinoids in Focus: Insights into Birth, Vision, and Disease Prevention," on Sunday, June 30, from 8:00 to 8:12 a.m. Pacific Time, at McCormick Place (abstract, presentation details).

Please note that although the abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2024 were evaluated and selected by an expert panel, they have not undergone the peer review process typically required for publication in a scientific journal. Therefore, the presented findings should be considered preliminary until peer-reviewed publications are available. About NUTRITION 2024

NUTRITION 2024 is the flagship conference of the American Society for Nutrition and the premier educational event for nutrition professionals worldwide. NUTRITION brings together laboratory scientists, clinicians, population health researchers, and community intervention researchers to find solutions to today's biggest nutrition challenges. Our audience also includes ambitious leaders in the field, including undergraduate, graduate, and medical students.
About the American Society of Nutrition (ASN)

ASN publishes four peer-reviewed academic journals and provides education and training opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice and training. Since 2018, the American Society for Nutrition has hosted NUTRITION, the leading global annual conference for nutrition professionals.