Background: Increased oxidative stress has been suggested as the main mechanism for the initiation and progression of diabetic complications, optimal glucose control notwithstanding. One way of combating oxidative damage is to increase antioxidant defenses through diet or supplements. Overall antioxidant status can be predicted by carotenoid levels, which can be measured non-invasively using Raman spectroscopy. This is a pioneer study utilizing skin carotenoid levels as a measure of fruit and vegetable intake and antioxidant status in Filipino diabetic patients.Objective: The study aims to determine the skin carotenoid score (SCS) of type 2 diabetes patients as a measure of fruit and vegetable intake, and correlate this with the presence of diabetes complications and degree of glycemic control.Methodology: This is a descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study of type 2 diabetes patients who underwent risk assessment at the EAMC Outpatient Diabetes Clinic from February 2006 to August 2007. Blood and urine samples were collected and ancillary tests were done to evaluate the diabetes profile. SCS was measured using the BioPhotonic Scanner. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess correlation of SCS with diabetic complications and HbA1c.Results: Eighty-five patients were included in the study. Fifty-five patients (64.7%) had diabetic neuropathy; 23.5% had retinopathy and 14.1% had nephropathy. Mean HbA1c was 7.66%. Fifty-nine patients had mild SCS (10000-19000) and 10 had a low score (
Human ; Animal ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Nutritional And Metabolic Diseases ; Metabolic Diseases ; Glucose Metabolism Disorders ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Carotenoids ; Antioxidants ; Oxidative Stress ; Analysis ; Eating ; Nutrition Processes