TECH

Samsung Electronics announces groundbreaking antioxidant index metric to be used in Galaxy Watch8

Samsung Electronics recently announced the Antioxidant Index as the central feature of its new Galaxy Watch8. This groundbreaking metric, according to the company, is capable of measuring carotenoid levels in the skin in five seconds, offering the user an objective indicator of their fruit and vegetable consumption.

This is the first time a wearable manufacturer has attempted to quantify a nutritional biomarker directly and non-invasively in a consumer device. Samsung positions the technology as a "portable health advisor," aiming to bridge the gap between monitoring physical activity and the real impact of diet.

Until now, the assessment of nutritional biomarkers, such as carotenoids, relied on complex and expensive laboratory tests, notably Raman spectroscopy, which uses bulky equipment.

Samsung claims to have solved this challenge after seven years of research. The “main breakthrough,” according to Jinyoung Park, Engineer on Samsung’s Digital Health Team, was the miniaturization of the technology. The new BioActive sensor uses reflectance spectroscopy based on multi-wavelength LEDs, integrated into a compact photodetector.

The measurement process requires the user to place their thumb on the sensor. In seconds, calibration algorithms interpret the light absorbed by the skin and estimate the level of carotenoids.

Why measure carotenoids? Carotenoids are natural pigments (red, yellow, green) that the human body does not produce, obtaining them exclusively through diet, especially fruits and vegetables. Their level in tissues therefore reflects the consumption of these foods.

These compounds function as antioxidants, essential for neutralizing reactive oxygen species which, in excess, contribute to aging and increase the risk of chronic diseases.

“Antioxidant management is essential to slow down aging,” says Dr. Hyojee Joung, a specialist at Seoul National University, who collaborated on the development. The Antioxidant Index translates this complex measurement into three simple categories: Very Low, Low, or Optimal (corresponding to 100% or more of the WHO recommendation of 400g/day).

The challenge of inclusive accuracy...One of the biggest technical obstacles in optical measurement through the skin is the interference of melanin, which varies dramatically between different skin tones.

To ensure data reliability, Samsung engineers opted to perform the measurement using the fingertip. This area, according to the company, has a consistently low concentration of melanin in all individuals. Additionally, the system requires light finger pressure, which momentarily reduces blood flow and improves the accuracy of the optical signal.

Samsung states that the technology, incorporated into the Galaxy Watch8, was validated in clinical trials with hundreds of participants at the Samsung Medical Center to ensure its effectiveness in a diverse population.

Antioxidant Index: the impact on preventive health...The Antioxidant Index is not an immediate reflection of the last meal. “Carotenoids accumulate in tissues gradually,” explains Dr. Joung, noting that one to two weeks of dietary change are necessary for the index to reflect this change.

Samsung wants the metric to function as an indicator of overall well-being, also influenced by sleep, stress, and physical activity.

By transforming a complex biological data point into an actionable daily metric, the company is betting on the gamification of preventative health. “New sensors in wearable technologies can play a key role in promoting healthy eating habits,” concludes Professor Yoonho Choi of the Samsung Medical Center.

It remains to be seen how the market and the medical community will react to the accuracy of the functionality outside of a controlled environment, but, in any case, this Samsung innovation could signal a new era for wearables: that of biochemical monitoring.

mundophone