Daily Consumption of a Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie Alters Facial Skin Color.

Soma R Mitra,Kok Wei Tan,Brigitte A Graf,Pratibha V Nerurkar,Ian D Stephen

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0133445

Abstract

Consumption of dietary carotenoids or carotenoid supplements can alter the color (yellowness) of human skin through increased carotenoid deposition in the skin. As fruit and vegetables are the main dietary sources of carotenoids, skin yellowness may be a function of regular fruit and vegetable consumption. However, most previous studies have used tablets or capsules to supplement carotenoid intake, and less is known of the impact of increased fruit and vegetable consumption on skin color. Here, we examined skin color changes in an Asian population (Malaysian Chinese ethnicity) over a six week dietary intervention with a carotenoid-rich fruit smoothie. Eighty one university students (34 males, 47 females; mean age 20.48) were assigned randomly to consuming either a fruit smoothie (intervention group) or mineral water (control group) daily for six weeks. Participants’ skin yellowness (CIELab b*), redness (a*) and luminance (L*) were measured at baseline, twice during the intervention period and at a two-week follow-up, using a handheld reflectance spectrophotometer. Results showed a large increment in skin yellowness (p<0.001) and slight increment in skin redness (p<0.001) after 4 weeks of intervention for participants in the intervention group. Skin yellowness and skin redness remained elevated at the two week follow up measurement. In conclusion, intervention with a carotenoid-rich fruit smoothie is associated with increased skin redness and yellowness in an Asian population. Changes in the reflectance spectrum of the skin suggest that this color change was caused by carotenoid deposition in the skin.

Highlights

Carotenoids are a group of red, orange and yellow plant pigments which are thought to be beneficial for human health
Among the 151 food items listed in the Food Frequency Questionnaire, seven items contributed 76% of total carotenoids consumed: carrot juice (25.2%), spinach (21.9%), lettuce (9.1%), papaya (5.6%), kale (5.4%), green beans (4.7%) and carrot (4.1%)
No significant difference in body composition or skin color was found at baseline between the intervention and control groups (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Carotenoids are a group of red, orange and yellow plant pigments which are thought to be beneficial for human health. Consumption of a Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie Alters Skin Color effects of UV light [2,3]. Carotenoids cannot be synthesized de novo in the human body, so must be obtained from dietary sources, primarily from fruit and vegetables [4]. Dietary carotenoids can accumulate in human skin and generate measurable changes in skin color– yellowness (CIELab bÃ) [5,6,7]. Stahl and colleagues [5] found an increment in carotenoid levels in human skin after participants consumed capsules containing 25 mg of beta-carotene per day for 12 weeks. A similar effect was obtained with a supplement containing 24 mg (total) of three common dietary carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene) daily for 12 weeks. An increment in skin yellowness (bÃ) was observed after 6 weeks [7]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion