Samsung’s First Ever Nutrition Tracking Tech for Galaxy Watch – Samsung Newsroom Canada

It began with a easy query: What in case you may measure your vitamin in real-time, proper out of your wrist?

Samsung’s Antioxidant Index on Galaxy Watch8 transforms what as soon as appeared like science fiction into on a regular basis expertise. In 5 seconds, a thumb scan returns carotenoid ranges – the trade’s first measurable vitamin index[1].

By miniaturizing lab-grade sensor expertise, it turns your weight loss program into an actionable metric for more healthy ageing. Establishing this new benchmark in wearable well being monitoring required years of intensive R&D, numerous prototypes, and unwavering grit.

Breaking New Ground in Nutrition Tracking

Back in 2018, Samsung noticed a vital hole in wearables: we may rely each step and calorie, but there was no easy strategy to measure how our weight loss program impacted our well being. Deeper dietary insights have been locked behind costly and time-consuming lab assessments, out of attain for many individuals.

As individuals stay longer, the main focus is shifting from merely rising lifespan to bettering the standard of these further years.

“In this context, antioxidation naturally gains attention as a method to slow down aging,” explains Dr. Hyojee Joung, a Seoul National University public well being vitamin knowledgeable who guided elements of the tech’s improvement. “If antioxidant management is neglected, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) accumulate in the body, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.”

This realization made antioxidants the cornerstone of Samsung’s mission. Engineers and scientists centered on carotenoids – key antioxidants and indicators of fruit and vegetable consumption – to create a tool sufficiently small to take a seat in your wrist, but highly effective sufficient to show advanced antioxidant knowledge into easy, actionable insights for everybody.

The first prototype of the spectroscopy-based antioxidant sensor

A clinical-ready model of the sensor

A prototype designed to be used in skincare merchandise

Challenge #1: How to Shrink the Lab-Grade Sensor Technology

From day one, the dream of a nutrition-tracking wearable hit a direct snag: conventional strategies for measuring carotenoid ranges like Raman spectroscopy are laser-based, non-invasive and exact, however depend on cumbersome machines which might be removed from wearable. So the staff’s first mission was to shrink the lab-grade tech right into a coin-sized sensor.

1. The first prototype of the spectroscopy-based antioxidant sensor
2. A clinical-ready model of the sensor
3. A prototype designed to be used in skincare merchandise

After seven years of rigorous testing and optimizing for the reason that first prototype, the staff developed the BioActive sensor, a groundbreaking tech that mixes multi-wavelength LEDs with a customized photodetector array to supply – carotenoid readings in a compact design.

“Our breakthrough was integrating reflectance spectroscopy with LEDs, which allowed us to miniaturize the technology while maintaining a high level of accuracy,” explains Jinyoung Park, a developer from Digital Health staff at Samsung Electronics.

Antioxidant sensor LED-PD sensor modules

Unlike lasers, which emit a pointy, slim wavelength, LEDs emit a broader wavelength vary. By analyzing how a lot gentle is absorbed by the pores and skin at a number of wavelengths by photodiodes, the watch estimates carotenoid ranges. The superior algorithms that repeatedly calibrate in real-time additionally help precision whereas delivering customized insights to every consumer.[2] 

The LED-PD Watch prototype testbed

Challenge #2: How to Ensure the Tech Reaches Everyone

Creating a coin-sized carotenoid sensor was a serious milestone, however the subsequent problem was making certain it may work precisely and reliably throughout various pores and skin varieties, making it really accessible to everybody.

To overcome challenges like melanin interference in darker pores and skin tones, Samsung’s engineers opted to make use of the fingertip for measurements because it has the least melanin throughout all ethnic teams. They additionally added easy tweaks, like gentle fingertip strain throughout scans, which helps briefly cut back blood circulate and hemoglobin interference.

Extensive trials performed at Samsung Medical Center, included lots of of members, validating the sensor’s efficiency. This paved the way in which for a function that seamlessly transitioned from the lab to customers worldwide, providing an inclusive resolution designed for on a regular basis life.

How it Works:

Carotenoids are the pure crimson, yellow, and inexperienced pigments present in vegatables and fruits. Since our our bodies can’t produce carotenoids on their very own, the degrees saved within the physique supply a snapshot of how a lot fruit and greens somebody has been consuming.

This is the place your Antioxidant Index rating is available in, reflecting your carotenoid ranges based mostly on these classes:

• Very low: Less than 50% of the each day WHO suggestion of 400g per day.
• Low: Between 50%–100%.
• Optimal: 100% or extra.

“Skin carotenoids metabolize and accumulate in tissues gradually, so short-term changes in fruit and vegetable intake won’t immediately appear in the score,” explains Dr. Hyojee Joung. “Our research shows that increased carotenoid intake leads to a meaningful rise in skin carotenoid levels after about one to two weeks, making the Index a valuable tool for tracking consistent, long-term dietary habits.”

Lifestyle elements like sleep high quality, stress ranges, and bodily exercise additionally affect the Index, making it a well-rounded indicator of total wellness. Paired with different Galaxy Watch8 features like sleep teaching[3], exercise monitoring and Vascular Load monitoring[4], the Antioxidant Index presents a holistic view of your wellness, empowering smarter selections.

The Antioxidant index function measures carotenoid ranges in seconds with the sensor on the again of the Galaxy Watch8 and supplies further dietary insights on paired Galaxy smartphones.

Your Wellness, Reimagined

“New wearable sensors can play a role in helping people build healthy eating habits by tracking and encouraging sufficient daily intake of fruits and vegetables,” says Professor Yoonho Choi from Samsung Medical Center.

Antioxidants are an rising space of focus, and analysis has been restricted as a result of challenges of correct measurement. But Galaxy Watch8’s Antioxidant Index goes past present trade developments and delivers significant innovation.

Samsung’s potential to measure antioxidant ranges is a game-changer in well being monitoring. By serving to customers determine dangers early and take proactive steps in direction of bettering their wellness, Samsung is paving the way in which for a wiser, extra proactive method and reimagining what position wearables can play.

[1] To measure, place the middle of your finger on the sensor in the back of the Watch and maintain it for five seconds. While Anti-oxidant index could be measured utilizing any finger, the thumb is advisable for many correct outcome. Repeat measurement if there may be uneven placement of finger. Requires Samsung Account login and Samsung Health app 6.27 or later. Available on units with Android OS 10 (Q OS) or later. AGEs is supported in Samsung Galaxy Watch7 and later launched Samsung Galaxy Watch fashions solely. Not meant to be used in detection, prognosis, remedy of any medical situation. Anti-oxidant monitoring is on your private reference solely. Please seek the advice of a medical skilled for recommendation.

[2] Not meant to be used in detection, prognosis, remedy of any medical situation or ailments. The measurements are on your private reference solely. Please seek the advice of a medical skilled for recommendation. Accuracy of outcomes is just not assured.

[3] Sleep monitoring options are meant for normal wellness and health functions solely. Not meant to be used in detection, prognosis, remedy of any medical situation or sleep problem. The measurements are on your private reference solely. Please seek the advice of a medical skilled for recommendation. Sleep Coaching requires sleep knowledge of a minimum of 7 days, together with 2 days off. Requires the most recent model of the Samsung Health app (model 6.27 or later).

[4] Vascular Load is obtainable on Android telephones (Android 10 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app (V6.30 or above). Samsung account login is required. To measure vascular load, it’s required to put on Galaxy Watch (Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch8 and later launch Galaxy Watch sequence) when sleeping for a minimum of 3 days out of current 14 days. Vascular load monitoring is for health and wellness solely. If you’ve got been recognized with heart problems or are recovering from surgical procedure, be sure you comply with your physician’s remedy plan. Not meant to be used in detection, prognosis, remedy of any medical situation or ailments. This is a Labs function you can preview earlier than its official launch. If you don’t wish to use this function, you’ll be able to flip if off in Samsung Health settings.