TBONS: Toddler Biomarker of Nutrition Study - Toddler Fruit and Veggie Pouch Study (H-53006)

Can we learn what your toddler eats, in a matter of seconds?

Studying the role of nutrition in children's health is challenging. Young children cannot tell us what they eat. Many children eat meals away from their primary caregivers while in group childcare or with a babysitter, so there isn't even always one adult who knows everything their child eats. If we could get a rapid, and quantitative assessment of what young children eat, doctors and scientists can do a better job of developing nutrition guidance for them.

When we eat foods, we absorb the nutrients and other components into our bodies. There are colorful natural components, called "carotenoids," found in fruits and vegetables. Adults and children absorb carotenoids from their foods and some carotenoids are found in the skin. In adults and children, we can use a device to optically measure skin carotenoids. This skin carotenoid measurement provides a read-out of what the person has been eating. However, we don't have a good grasp of how precisely and how quickly the skin carotenoid measurements can tell us about what the child has been eating.

What is the purpose of the study?

The Toddler Fruit and Veggie Pouch Study wants to find out if we can reliably measure carotenoids in toddlers' skin when they are 24 months of age to rapidly learn what they eat. We also want to learn if the skin carotenoid measurements are as good as blood carotenoid measurements.

What is involved in the study?

• 4 visits, over 5 weeks, to the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine.
• Food surveys and questionnaires
• Optical skin measurements
• Body measurements
• Blood sample (1 teaspoon)
• Up to $150 in pre-paid debit cards and free parking.

Who is eligible to enroll?

• Toddlers 24 months of age
• Meet health and body size criteria
• Participating guardian speaks, reads, and understands English

How to learn more and get involved

Complete our contact form below. Someone on our team will contact you to provide more details and screen you and your child's eligibility to participate. Or you may e-mail Pouch_Study@bcm.edu or call us at 713-798-0517.