Abstract
Cigarette smoking is well-known to associate with accelerated skin aging as well as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, in large part due to oxidative stress. Because metabolites are downstream of genetic variation, as well as transcriptional changes and post-translational modifications of proteins, they are the most proximal reporters of disease states or reversal of disease states. In this study, we explore the potential effects of commonly available oral supplements (containing antioxidants, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids) on the metabolomes of smokers (n = 11) compared to non-smokers (n = 17). At baseline and after 12 weeks of supplementation, metabolomic analysis was performed on serum by liquid and gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy (LC-MS and GC-MS). Furthermore, clinical parameters of skin aging, including cutometry as assessed by three dermatologist raters blinded to subjects' age and smoking status, were measured. Long-chain fatty acids, including palmitate and oleate, decreased in smokers by 0.76-fold (P = 0.0045) and 0.72-fold (P = 0.0112), respectively. These changes were not observed in non-smokers. Furthermore, age and smoking status showed increased glow (P = 0.004) and a decrease in fine wrinkling (P = 0.038). Cutometry showed an increase in skin elasticity in smokers (P = 0.049) but not in non-smokers. Complexion analysis software (VISIA) revealed decreases in the number of ultraviolet spots (P = 0.031), and cutometry showed increased elasticity (P = 0.05) in smokers but not non-smokers. Additional future work may shed light on the specific mechanisms by which long-chain fatty acids can lead to increased glow, improved elasticity measures and decreased fine wrinkling in smokers' skin. Our study provides a novel, medicine-focused application of available metabolomic technology to identify changes in sera of human subjects with oxidative stress, and suggests that oral supplementation (in particular, commonly available antioxidants, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids) affects these individuals in a way that is unique (compared to non-smokers) on a broad level.
Highlights
Cigarette smoking is well-known to associate with accelerated skin aging [1,2] as well as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, in large part due to cellular damage from oxidative stress
Multiple commonly available over-the-counter antioxidant compounds and omega-3 fatty acids were used in the study because supplements are taken in real life as ‘multivitamins’, oxidative stress is known to deplete multiple antioxidants in the skin, and multiple antioxidants are more effective than a single antioxidant to combat oxidative stress [12]
Metabolomic profiles We identified and analyzed 419 metabolites, which consisted of known metabolites as well as unknowns
Summary
Cigarette smoking is well-known to associate with accelerated skin aging as well as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, in large part due to oxidative stress. Cigarette smoking is well-known to associate with accelerated skin aging [1,2] as well as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, in large part due to cellular damage from oxidative stress. Because the addictive qualities of cigarette smoking can make this habit difficult to overcome, a potential strategy to address the adverse biologic effects of smoking might be to ingest substances that might absorb the free radicals or mitigate their effects. One such category of substances comprises the oral antioxidants, taken in the form of supplements. The ability of oral antioxidants to be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, circulate through the bloodstream, and reach target organs, such as the skin or heart, is still an area of active study [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
