Using data from the NHANES study, researchers in China suggested that higher levels of all serum carotenoids, except lycopene, were associated with lower BMI and a lower prevalence of obesity in 1,329 children and adolescents.
However, the cross-sectional design of the study and the mechanisms of carotenoid storage and metabolism limit any inference to causality.
“These findings provide preliminary evidence for the possible relevance of carotenoids in pediatric adiposity and underscore the need for future longitudinal and mechanistic studies to confirm these associations and further explore the differential roles of individual carotenoids,” the researchers wrote.
Carotenoids and health
There are over 700 distinct carotenoids that have been identified, but six of them comprise 95% of all carotenoids present in human plasma or serum – α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene.
Carotenoids contribute to the body’s vitamin A requirements and protect against oxidative stress. Research suggests that they are beneficial for eye and skin health, as well as for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Commenting on the current study in a press release, Dr. Ariati Aris, scientific affairs specialist at PhytoGaia, underscored the importance of improving dietary quality in early life.
“Carotenoids can’t be produced by the body, we have to obtain them from our diet,” she said. “This finding suggests that higher carotenoid levels, particularly β-carotene, are associated with significantly lower rates of obesity in children. Beyond their well-known role in eye and skin health, carotenoids may also support healthier weight and metabolic balance.”
Too early to recommend supplementation
The cross-sectional design of the study captures data at a single time point, which means a causal relationship has not been established.
Speaking with NutraIngredients, Dr. Aris explained that obese individuals may store more carotenoids in fat tissue, resulting in lower circulating levels, which underscores the complexity of the relationship.
The researchers noted that reduced carotenoid concentrations in individuals with higher adiposity may not only be due to greater storage in adipose tissue but also to an increased utilization of carotenoids as a defense mechanism against elevated oxidative stress.
Because of these mechanisms, “the possibility of reverse causality cannot be excluded, as obesity may also influence serum carotenoid concentrations through altered storage, metabolism and dietary behaviors,” they wrote.
The study recommended further longitudinal and interventional studies to confirm these associations and cautioned that “it is premature to recommend carotenoid supplementation or to revise dietary guidelines specifically targeting high-carotenoid foods.”
Source: BMC Pediatr. 2025 Aug 10;25:617. doi: 10.1186/s12887-025-05983-0. “Inverse relationship between serum carotenoid levels and obesity prevalence in children and adolescents: a nationwide cross-sectional analysis”. Authors: Z. Chen et al.
