title: Natural cartilage polysaccharides for the treatment of sun-damaged skin in females: a double-blind comparison of Vivida and Imedeen.
abstract: Evidence is accumulating that cartilage polysaccharides derived from marine fish have a repairing effect on solar elastosis. In a double-blind trial, the efficacy and safety of two commercial preparations, Vivida and Imedeen, were compared in the treatment of sun-damaged skin in women aged 40-60 years. A group of 15 women received 500 mg/day Vivida and another 15 women received 380 mg/day Imedeen orally for 90 days. Subjective assessment revealed statistically significant improvements in skin condition in both treatment groups but Vivida was significantly (P less than 0.01) more effective than Imedeen for all parameters. In the Vivida group, mean epidermal thickness increased from 0.14 to 0.26 mm, dermal thickness from 0.90 to 1.51 mm and the elasticity index from 47% to 71%. In the Imedeen group, epidermal thickness increased from 0.13 to 0.18 mm, dermal thickness from 0.80 to 0.97 mm and the elasticity index from 48% to 56%. After 90 days, the differences between the two groups for all three parameters were statistically significant (P less than 0.001). The mean erythemal index decreased from 0.24 to 0.20 in the Vidida group, but increased from 0.23 to 0.25 in the Imedeen group. In the Vivida group, five patients developed transient, mild pimples during the first weeks of treatment, but no other adverse effects occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department for Dermatological Research, ARS-Medicina, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eskelinen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santalahti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002356:Cartilage; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011506:Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013472:Sunlight
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; C070172:Imedeen; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011506:Proteins; C077444:Vivida