An Encapsulated Fruit and Vegetable Juice Concentrate Increases Skin Microcirculation in Healthy Women S. De Spirt a H. Sies a, b, d H. Tronnier c U. Heinrich c a Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Medicine, and b Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf , and c Institute for Experimental Dermatology, University of Witten-Herdecke, Witten , Germany; d College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh , Saudi Arabia and a slight increase in skin density was observed. Conclu- sion: Ingestion of a fruit- and vegetable-based concentrate increases microcirculation of th e skin at 12 weeks of inter- vention and positively affects skin hydration, density and thickness. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel Introduction Nutrition is an important factor in skin health. Studies have shown that nutritional deficiencies correlate with skin disorders and/or changes in skin physiology [1] . Next to fatty acids, micronutrients, like vitamins, carot- enoids and polyphenols, are assumedly important active compounds in skin health [2] . Natural sources for these phytonutrients are fruits and vegetables. The effects are manifold, e.g. consumption of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables, or supplements, is known to improve skin photoprotection [3] or skin parameters such as structure or texture [4–8] . High-flavanol cocoa attenuated UV-in- duced erythema under experimental conditions [9] . Oxi- dation of proteins, DNA or lipids under UVA irradiation results in an increased cutaneous chemiluminescence Key Words Antioxidants Vitamins Microcirculation Oxygen to see device Abstract Background/Aim: Microcirculation in the dermis of the skin is important for nutrient delivery to this tissue. In this study, the effects of a micronutrient concentrate (Juice Plus+ ; ‘ac- tive group’), composed primaril y of fruit and vegetable juice powder, on skin microcirculation and structure were com- pared to placebo. Study Design/Methods: This 12-week study had a monocentric, double-blind placebo and ran- domized controlled design with two treatment groups con- sisting of 26 healthy middle-aged women each. The ‘oxygen to see’ device was used to evaluate microcirculation. Skin density and thickness were measured using ultrasound. Measurements for skin hydration (Corneometer ), transepi- dermal water loss and serum analysis for carotenoids and -tocopherol were also performed. Results: By 12 weeks, microcirculation of the superficial plexus increased by 39%. Furthermore, skin hydration increased by 9% while skin thickness increased by 6% and skin density by 16% in the ac- tive group. In the placebo grou p, microcirculation decreased, Received: February 21, 2011 Accepted after revision: June 6, 2011 Published online: August 5, 2011 Prof. Ulrike Heinrich Institute for Experimental Dermatology, University of Witten-Herdecke Alfred-Herrhausen-Strasse 44 DE–58455 Witten (Germany) Tel. +49 230 2282 6300, E-Mail ulrike.heinrich @ uni-wh.de © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel 1660–5527/12/0251–0002$38.00/0 Accessible online at: karger/spp Downloaded by: 24.11.54.25 - 6/9/2013 6:33:10 PM
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 16:38:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015