Effect of a quality-controlled fermented nutraceutical on skin aging markers: An antioxidant-control, double-blind study

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine whether oral supplementation with a fermented papaya preparation (FPP-treated group) or an antioxidant cocktail (antioxidant-control group, composed of 10 mg trans-resveratrol, 60 µg selenium, 10 mg vitamin E and 50 mg vitamin C) was able to improve the skin antioxidant capacity and the expression of key skin genes, while promoting skin antiaging effects. The study enrolled 60 healthy non-smoker males and females aged 40-65 years, all of whom showed clinical signs of skin aging. The subjects were randomly divided into two matched groups, and were administered FPP or antioxidant treatment of a 4.5 g/day sachet sublingually twice a day for 90 days in a double-blind fashion. The parameters investigated were: Skin surface, brown spots, skin evenness, skin moisturization, elasticity (face), redox balance, nitric oxide (NO) concentration, and the expression levels of key genes (outer forearm sample). As compared with the baseline (day 0) and antioxidant-control values, FPP-treated subjects showed a significant improvement in skin evenness, moisturization and elasticity. The two treatments improved the MDA and SOD skin concentrations, but only the FPP-treated group showed a higher SOD level and a significant NO increase, along with significant upregulation of acquaporin-3 and downregulation of the potentially pro-aging/carcinogenetic cyclophilin-A and CD147 genes (P<0.05). Progerin was unaffected in both treatment groups. In conclusion, these findings suggest that orally-administered FPP showed a consistent biological and gene-regulatory improvement in the skin, as was also demonstrated in previous experimental and clinical trials testing other tissues, while common oral antioxidants had only a minor effect.

Beneficial Effects of Fermented Papaya Preparation (FPP®) Supplementation on Redox Balance and Aging in a Mouse Model

“…This is conceivably due to the fact that the anti-aging action of FPP ® in maintaining telomeres length and mitigating progressive age-related shortening, is reduced when at a later age the telomeres have reached a shorter length. These results are consistent with previous reports on the attenuation of telomere length by antioxidants during aging [62,63] and on FPP ® action in modulating aging mechanisms [44][45][46][47]49].…”

“…In fact, FPP ® has shown a powerful in vitro anti-oxidative activity on brain cells [39], as well on in vivo experimental model of epilepsy consistently reducing neural release of epileptogenic monoamine [40]. Moreover, FPP ® showed a clear action in reducing the derangement of oxidant/antioxidant balance at the brain level in elderly rats and in experimental ischemia-reperfusion model [20,41,42]; FPP ® modulates oxidative DNA damage, protecting brain from oxidative damage in hypertensive rats and reducing genotoxic effect of H 2 O 2 [43], and protecting the body from the aging-related diseases [44][45][46][47], including neurodegenerative diseases [47][48][49]. However, a clear in vivo action of FPP ® on the molecular signature of aging, such as telomerase activity and telomeres length has not been provided yet.…”

The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health

“…A double-blind nutrition intervention study has evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with a fermented papaya extract, thought to have antioxidant activity [ 135 ], and an antioxidant cocktail containing 10 mg trans resveratrol, 60 μg selenium, 10 mg vitamin E and 50 mg vitamin C in a population of healthy individuals aged between 40 and 65, all with visible signs of skin aging. Following a 90-day supplementation period, skin surface, brown spots, evenness, moisture, elasticity (face), lipid peroxidation markers, superoxide dismutase activity, nitric oxide (NO) concentration, and the expression levels of key genes were measured.…”

“…Treatment of dry skin involves maintenance of the lipid barrier and the natural moisturising factor components of the stratum corneum, generally through topical application (91), although nutritional support of the dermis may also be useful [ 135 , 156 ].…”

Role of Resveratrol in Regulating Cutaneous Functions

“…In addition, topical applications of resveratrolcontaining products also improved aging-associated signs, such as skin wrinkles, stratum corneum hydration, and pigmentation, in aged humans [159]. But in one clinical trial in 30 subjects, oral supplement of product containing transresveratrol did not appreciably improve skin aging, despite reductions in cutaneous MDA content and elevations in SOD content [160].…”