Abstract
Skin is a major safeguard tissue in humans. Because biological barrier function is deteriorated by several kinds of stresses including exposure to ultra-violet (UV) rays, the protection and treatment of skin conditions by dietary supplements are important. We therefore evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with an algal food-derived antioxidant, astaxanthin, on UV-induced skin deterioration. Twenty-three healthy Japanese participants were recruited to a 10-week double-blind placebo-controlled study. They were assigned to the astaxanthin group supplemented with a capsule containing 4 mg of astaxanthin or the placebo group. To assess the protective role of astaxanthin for UV-induced skin deterioration, we determined the minimal erythema dose (MED) and analyzed UV-induced changes of moisture and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at baseline and after 9 weeks of supplementation. Subjective skin conditions were assessed by the visual analog scale. The astaxanthin group showed increased MED compared with placebo. In addition, the astaxanthin group had a reduced loss of skin moisture in the irradiated area compared with placebo. Subjective skin conditions for “improvement of rough skin” and “texture” in non-irradiated areas were significantly improved by astaxanthin. Astaxanthin seems protective against UV-induced skin deterioration and helps maintain healthy skin in healthy people.
Highlights
The skin, a major safeguard tissue in humans, is composed of the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue
In addition baseline in “improvement of rough skin” and “texture” in the non-irradiated area during the to objective skin conditions, evaluated subjective conditions by group from baseline supplementation period we were significantly improved skin in the astaxanthin compared with the in placebo
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to show the effects of dietary supplementation with astaxanthin on minimal erythema dose (MED) and the maintenance of moisture in an irradiated area in healthy subjects
Summary
The skin, a major safeguard tissue in humans, is composed of the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. These structures prevent the invasion of various microorganisms or pathogens and protect our body from physiological damage. The skin prevents the excessive transpiration of moisture [1]. These protective functions are called “barrier functions”. Impaired barrier functions result in increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), the loss of water that passes from inside the body through the epidermis, and a decrease of moisture, a water content of the stratum corneum. The skin undergoes oxidative damage by various stresses including daily exposure to ultra-violet (UV) rays from the sun, which leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
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