Associations between food and beverage purchases and skin carotenoids among diverse small food retail store customers

• Published in: Public health nutrition 2023-11, Vol.26 (11), p.2211-2217
• Main Authors: Dixon, Jocelyn, Stage, Virginia C, Truesdale, Kimberly P, Wu, Qiang, Kolasa, Kathryn, Haynes-Maslow, Lindsey, McGuirt, Jared T, Jilcott Pitts, Stephanie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Assessment and Methodology; Beverages; Bread; Carotenoids; Censuses; Commerce; Confectionery; Consumer Behavior; Corner stores; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Cross-Sectional Studies; Customers; Dairy products; Demographics; Dietary guidelines; Female; Food; Food intake; Food Preferences; Food Supply; Fruit juices; Fruits and vegetables; Health care; Healthy purchases; Humans; Male; Milk; Missing data; Nutrition research; Nuts; Purchasing; Regression analysis; Retail stores; Rice; Rural areas; Short Communication; Skin; Skin carotenoids; Tea; Vegetables
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980023001581

To determine if customer purchases at small food stores are associated with healthfulness of the diet as approximated by skin carotenoids. This is a cross-sectional survey of customers in small food stores regarding demographics and food purchases. Food and beverage purchases were classified as 'healthy' or 'non-healthy' and 'carotenoid' . 'non-carotenoid' using a systematic classification scheme. Fruit and vegetable intake was objectively assessed using a non-invasive device to measure skin carotenoids. Associations between variables of interest were examined using Pearson's correlation coefficients, tests and multiple linear regression analyses. Twenty-two small food retail stores in rural ( 7 stores) and urban ( 15) areas of North Carolina. Customers of small food stores. Of study participants ( 1086), 55·1 % were male, 60·0 % were African American/Black and 4·2 % were Hispanic, with a mean age of 43·5 years. Overall, 36 % purchased at least one healthy item, and 7·6 % of participants purchased a carotenoid-containing food/beverage. Healthy foods and beverages purchased included produce, lean meats, 100 % juices, plain popcorn, plain nuts, milk and yogurt. Unhealthy items included non-100 % juices, crackers, chips, candy, cakes and donuts. Purchase of a healthy or carotenoid-containing item was positively associated with skin carotenoid scores ( = 0·002 and 0·006, respectively). A relatively small proportion of customers purchased any healthy or carotenoid-containing foods and beverages, and those who did purchase healthy options had higher skin carotenoid scores. Future research should confirm these findings in different populations.