Objective

To determine the mediating effect of direct preschool and parent nutrition education on changes in skin carotenoids scores over 2 years in children of Mexican heritage.

Design

In a quasi-experimental, community-based study, two school districts were randomly assigned to either a comparison group (parent workshops unrelated to nutrition) or a childhood obesity prevention intervention group which included nutrition education at family nights for parents and at school for children. Changes in skin carotenoid intensity scores (diffCAROT, year 2015 minus 2013) were measured in children as a proxy for fruit and vegetable consumption using Resonance Raman Spectroscopy.

Setting

Two rural, low-income, school districts from a county in California's Central Valley.

Participants

316 Mexican heritage families with children aged 3-8 years.

Results

Intervention group children improved over 2 years in skin carotenoid scores relative to comparison group children (diffCAROT mean +1419 (sd 9540) v. -3473 (sd 9272), P = 0·0001). Parent attendance at nutrition education classes partially mediated the intervention effect on diffCAROT (P = 0·02). Controlling for child's age and other covariates, participation in preschool during the study had a significant positive effect on diffCAROT among intervention children compared with controls (P < 0·03), whereas no significant difference by group was observed among those not enrolled in preschool or already enrolled in elementary school.

Conclusions

Programmes that combine direct parent and preschool nutrition education may be effective in low-income Mexican heritage families to improve children's intake of fruit and vegetables.