Carotenoids in human skin.

Sarah Zerres, Wilhelm Stahl

Journal: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular and cell biology of lipids 2020;1865(11):158588

PMID: 31838152

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

The skin is shielding our organism from exogenous threats including solar radiation. Carotenoids which are ingested with the diet accumulate in the skin with the highest levels occurring in skin of the forehead and in the palms of the hands. Blood and skin levels of carotenoids increase during supplementation and due to their antioxidant properties and UV-absorbing effects carotenoids are used as photoprotective agents. Systemic photoprotection with carotenoids after supplementation or ingestion of a carotenoid rich diet has been demonstrated in several human intervention studies. Although protection is only moderate it may contribute to UV protection in combination with other measures. Beyond photoprotection, ingestion of carotenoids has been postulated to be of additional benefit for cutaneous tissue and influences moisture and texture or elasticity of the skin. However, only a limited number of studies is available yet to substantiate such a claim.

Address: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, P.O. Box 101007, D-40001 Duesseldorf, Germany.; Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, P.O. Box 101007, D-40001 Duesseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2019.158588

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MeSH Terms: Antioxidants, Carotenoids, Diet, Humans, Radiation-Protective Agents, Skin, Ultraviolet Rays