Protective effects of oral antioxidants on skin and eye function.
BACKGROUND
Antioxidants applied topically and/or taken systemically may play an important role in counteracting the oxidative injury to lipids and proteins on the skin and eye that are provoked by radical oxygen species.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to control photoprotective activity of the skin and eye through the use of oral antioxidants in 50 smoker volunteers (10 cigarettes/d) aged between 25-36 years and affected by dry skin.


METHODS
Oxidative stress was assessed by a randomized double-blind study, and the ROS-Meter System (Dermotech, Rome, Italy). Global visual function was determined by the use of different visual surveillance tests.


RESULTS
A 40% decrease of oxidative stress in blood serum was verified, with a clear relationship between global visual function and the oral intake of an oxygenated carotenoid (lutein).


CONCLUSIONS
Carotenoids used as nutritional supplements seem to play an interesting photoprotective role for both skin and eyes, eventually increasing the activity of topical sunscreens.
Morganti
Pierfrancesco
P
Department of Dermatology, II University of Naples, Naples, Italy. morganti@iscd.it.
Fabrizi
Giuseppe
G
Bruno
Cesare
C
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011336:Probability; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods
D000975:Antioxidants; D020011:Protective Agents; D002338:Carotenoids