Lycopene-rich Juice Intervention to Reduce Inflammatory Markers Among Adults With Obesity

Participants will be asked to drink a lycopene-rich (tomato-based) juice daily for three weeks. At each of 2 clinic visits, participants will be asked to: Fast for 10 hours before coming to the visit; BMI verification; blood draw by a trained phlebotomist to assess the carotenoids in blood and compare those with the carotenoids in skin and self-reported diet; Have weight, height, and body fat percentage measured; Have skin carotenoids measured using the Veggie Meter and skin color/melanin index measured using a skin spectrophotometer. This involves surface coloration scans of the finger and forearm; Complete demographic and diet history questionnaires.

Inclusion criteria

• Non-Hispanic African American/Black, Asian, non-Hispanic White, or Hispanic/Latinx
• Over 18 years of age
• Able to speak, read, and understand English
• Willing and able to drive to the research office, have a small amount of blood drawn by a trained phlebotomist, complete a questionnaire about health, demographics, and your food consumption, have height, weight, body fat, and skin tone measured, and have your skin carotenoids measured using the Veggie Meter.
• Willing to maintain your usual levels of exercise and diet.
• Willing to consume juice daily for the study duration, 3 weeks. We will provide this juice to you.

Exclusion criteria

• Not one of the racial/ethnic groups specified
• Under 18 years of age
• Not able to speak, read, and understand English
• Not willing to drink the test juice daily
• Unable to get to the research office for the baseline and follow-up measures