Interaction between Carotenoids and Free Radicals in Human Skin

Abstract

Environmental factors like air pollutants, radiation of the sun and stress factors such as illness, smoking, or alcohol abuse produce free radicals in the human tissue as well as in the skin. Free radicals serve as the main cause for premature skin aging. Additionally, they also contribute towards immunosuppression and the formation of skin diseases including cancer. The human organism has developed a protection system against the destructive action of free radicals by means of the antioxidant network. In the present study, the interaction of free radicals and carotenoid antioxidants in the human skin under in vivo conditions was investigated and summarized. The measurement of carotenoids in human skin was performed in vivo using resonance Raman spectroscopy.

Determination of the Antioxidant Status of the Skin by In Vivo-Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy

“…Carotenoids such as most of the known antioxidants have to be taken up with food, such as fruits and vegetables, because they cannot be produced by the body itself [60,61]. To investigate the effect of lipophilic antioxidants on the spin probe TEMPO, a double-blinded placebo-controlled study with 24 healthy volunteers was carried out, all of which were given a supplementary lipophilic curly kale extract (Lutex Skin) for 8 weeks [38].…”

Influence on the Carotenoid Levels of Skin Arising from Age, Gender, Body Mass Index in Smoking/Non-Smoking Individuals

“…[4,5] This is explained by the powerful antioxidative action of carotenoids in the reactions of neutralization of free radicals in human skin. [6][7][8][9][10] Stimulated by the positive results of a diet rich in fruit and vegetables in the support of some medical treatments and in cosmetics, artificial and natural antioxidant substances have been broadly applied. As a result, not only positive but also strong negative results have been obtained by different authors.…”

Effects of Dietary Paprika Xanthophylls on Ultraviolet Light-Induced Skin Damage: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study

“…Our results suggest the possibility that the antioxidant activity of these xanthophylls was responsible for the amelioration of photo-induced skin damage. The major fraction of skin carotenoids is physiologically located in the upper stratum corneum, and oral administration of carotenoids increased skin carotenoid levels 16,17 , and hence increased the radical-scavenging activity. The effects of a xanthophyll complex containing lutein and zeaxanthin on skin have been reported 18 .…”

“…Xanthophylls administered orally, topically, or in combination reduced UV radiation-induced skin damage. Furthermore, cutaneous β-carotene and lycopene levels decreased, likely due to quenching of reactive oxygen species 16 . Various stress factors other than UV light also cause oxidative damage to the skin 19 22 .…”