Effects of vitamin C vs. multivitamin on melanogenesis: comparative study in vitro and in vivo.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin C has been used for the treatment of hyperpigmented diseases. However, there is no study available on hypopigmenting effect of multivitamin.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the inhibitory effects of multivitamin and vitamin C on melanogenesis.


METHODS
We assessed the effect of multivitamin and vitamin C on cell viability, melanogenesis, and mushroom tyrosinase. The antioxidant activity of multivitamin and vitamin C was measured. We performed the Western blot analysis to study the effect of multivitamin and vitamin C on the expression of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and Akt/protein kinase B. In a clinical trial, 20 melasma patients were treated with split face iontophoresis using either multivitamin or vitamin C. We evaluated the hypopigmenting effects of multivitamin and vitamin C through colorimetric measurement.


RESULTS
Both vitamin C and multivitamin inhibited melanogenesis with low cytotoxicity. Multivitamin reduced melanin contents greater than vitamin C. However, the effects of vitamin C are greater than those of multivitamin on mushroom tyrosinase inhibition and antioxidation. In the Western blot, the reduced tyrosinase expression and MITF level were observed only in multivitamin-treated group, and not in vitamin C-treated group. No changes of ERK and Akt activation were observed in both multivitamin and vitamin C-treated groups. After 12 weeks of treatment with iontophoresis, both multivitamin and vitamin C were effective for melasma.


CONCLUSIONS
Multivitamin has shown more anti-melanogenic effect than vitamin C via the downregulation of MITF.
Choi
Yang Kyu
YK
Departments of Dermatology and Biochemistry, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Rho
Yong Kwan
YK
Yoo
Kwang Ho
KH
Lim
Yun Young
YY
Li
Kapsok
K
Kim
Beom Joon
BJ
Seo
Seong Jun
SJ
Kim
Myeung Nam
MN
Hong
Chang Kwun
CK
Kim
Dong-Seok
DS
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003124:Colorimetry; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007478:Iontophoresis / Q000379:methods; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008548:Melanosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005609:Free Radicals; D008543:Melanins; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D014815:Vitamins; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid