Molecular evidence that oral supplementation with lycopene or lutein protects human skin against ultraviolet radiation: Results from a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests photoprotection by oral supplementation with β-carotene and lycopene. OBJECTIVES: To examine the capacity of lycopene-rich tomato nutrient complex (TNC) and lutein, to protect against ultraviolet (UV)A/B and UVA1 radiation at a molecular level. METHODS: In a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized, crossover study two active treatments containing either TNC or lutein were assessed for their capacity to decrease the expression of UVA1 the radiation-inducible genes HO1, ICAM1 and MMP1. Sixty-five healthy volunteers were allocated to four treatment groups and subjected to a 2-week washout phase, followed by two 12-week treatment phases separated by another 2 weeks of washout. Volunteers started either with active treatment and were then switched to placebo, or vice versa. At the beginning and at the end of each treatment phase skin was irradiated and 24 h later biopsies were taken from untreated, UVA/B- and UVA1-irradiated skin for subsequent reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis of gene expression. Moreover, blood samples were taken after the washout and the treatment phases for assessment of carotenoids. RESULTS: TNC completely inhibited UVA1- and UVA/B-induced upregulation of heme-oxygenase 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and matrix metallopeptidase 1 mRNA, no matter the sequence (anova, P < 0·05). In contrast, lutein provided complete protection if it was taken in the first period but showed significantly smaller effects in the second sequence compared with TNC. CONCLUSIONS: Assuming the role of these genes as indicators of oxidative stress, photodermatoses and photoageing, these results might indicate that TNC and lutein could protect against solar radiation-induced health damage.
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In a 12-week double-blinded placebo-controlled crossover study, oral supplementation of lycopene and lutein completely inhibited upregulation of heme oxygenase-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and MMP-1 mRNA in arm skin.
“The experimental results showed that oral supplementation of lycopene and lutein completely inhibited the upregulation of heme oxygenase-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and MMP-1 mRNA in arm skin [100].”
From Boosting the Photoaged Skin: The Potential Role of Dietary Components (2021) · cites this paper as [100]
Combined consumption of lycopene and other carotenoids attenuates skin photoaging.
“The combined consumption of lycopene and other carotenoids also attenuates skin photoaging.”
From Boosting the Photoaged Skin: The Potential Role of Dietary Components (2021) · cites this paper as [100]
Oral supplementation with lycopene and lutein promotes human skin health.
“For example, oral supplementation with lycopene and lutein promotes human skin health.”
From Boosting the Photoaged Skin: The Potential Role of Dietary Components (2021) · cites this paper as [100]
Oral supplementation with lycopene-rich tomato nutrient complex (TNC) and lutein protects human skin against UVA and UVA/UVB radiations.
“In a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized study, oral supplementation with lycopene-rich tomato nutrient complex (TNC) and lutein has been shown to be able to protect the human skin against UVA and UVA/UVB radiations [79].”
From Antioxidants from Plants Protect against Skin Photoaging (2018) · cites this paper as [79]
Safety concerns have been raised regarding β-carotene supplementation for over long periods of time.
“Moreover, safety concerns have been recently raised with regard to its supplementation for over long periods of time [79].”
From Antioxidants from Plants Protect against Skin Photoaging (2018) · cites this paper as [79]
Oral supplementation with TNC inhibited UV-induced upregulation of genes heme oxygenase-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and matrix metallopeptidase 1.
“In particular, oral supplementation with TNC inhibited UV-induced upregulation of the genes heme oxygenase-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and matrix metallopeptidase 1, indicators of oxidative stress, photodermatoses and photoaging [79].”
From Antioxidants from Plants Protect against Skin Photoaging (2018) · cites this paper as [79]
Protection from UV radiation is more effective upon treatment with combined tomato antioxidant compounds compared to lycopene treatment alone, probably due to a synergistic effect of different tomato phytonutrients.
“Several studies suggested that the protection from UV radiation is more effective upon treatment with combined tomato antioxidant compounds, compared to the effects of lycopene treatment alone, and this is probably due to a synergistic effect of the different tomato phytonutrients [79, 111].”
From Antioxidants from Plants Protect against Skin Photoaging (2018) · cites this paper as [79]
Oral supplements containing lycopene-rich tomato nutrient complex and lutein were able to protect human skin against UVB/A and UVA1 radiation by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in UVR-induced skin damage.
“A recent study demonstrated that oral supplements containing lycopene-rich tomato nutrient complex and lutein were able to protect human skin against UVB/A and UVA1 radiation by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in UVR-induced skin damage [49].”
From Oxidative Stress and Ageing: The Influence of Environmental Pollution, Sunlight and Diet on Skin (2017) · cites this paper as [49]
Intake of lycopene and lutein was associated with significantly reduced expression of MMP-1 and heme oxygenase-1.
“Intake of lycopene and lutein was associated with significantly reduced expression of MMP-1 and heme oxygenase-1, a sensitive marker of oxidative stress [49].”
From Oxidative Stress and Ageing: The Influence of Environmental Pollution, Sunlight and Diet on Skin (2017) · cites this paper as [49]
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- Authors
- Grether-Beck, S., Marini, A., Jaenicke, T., Stahl, W., & Krutmann, J.
- Affiliations
- IUF - Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine; Düsseldorf Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Environmental Medicine (DE)
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Krutmann, J.
- Venue
- British Journal of Dermatology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2017-03-15
- Volume
- 176
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1231-1240
- ISSN
- 0007-0963 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2523461114
- Cited by
- 166
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 9
- FWCI
- 17.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- British Journal of Dermatology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Lycored Ltd
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
- Keywords
- lycopene, lutein, oral supplementation, photoprotection, ultraviolet radiation, UVA1, heme oxygenase-1, ICAM-1, MMP-1, oxidative stress, skin gene expression, carotenoids, photoaging, photodermatosis
- MeSH terms
- Lycopene, Administration, Oral, Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Carotenoids, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Radiation-Protective Agents, Skin, Ultraviolet Rays, Lutein, Up-Regulation, Oxidative Stress, Solanum lycopersicum, Cross-Over Studies, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, Dietary Supplements, Matrix Metalloproteinase 1, Heme Oxygenase-1, Young Adult
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