title: Prevention of polymorphic light eruption by oral administration of a nutritional supplement containing lycopene, β-carotene, and Lactobacillus johnsonii: results from a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is the most common photodermatosis. Little is known about the efficacy of systemic photoprotection provided by nutritional supplements in PLE patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess efficacy of nutritional supplement containing lycopene, β-carotene, and Lactobacillus johnsonii to diminish skin lesions induced by 'photoprovocation' testing in PLE patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study, 60 PLE patients were supplemented with the nutritional supplement or placebo. For inducing skin lesions, patient skin was exposed to single daily doses of 100 J/cm2 ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) for two consecutive days. Skin lesions were evaluated using a PLE score. Skin biopsies were taken before and after supplementation from unexposed and exposed skin, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mRNA expression was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior to supplementation, skin lesions were induced in all patients with comparable PLE scores. After 12 weeks, intake of the supplement significantly reduced the PLE score after one exposure as compared with patients taking placebo (P<0.001). After two exposures, these differences were no longer significant. At a molecular level, the development of skin lesions was associated with an increased expression of ICAM-1 mRNA, which was significantly reduced after supplementation (P=0.022), but not with placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nutritional supplement provides protection against the development of UVA-induced PLE lesions at clinical and molecular levels.
authors.affiliation: IUF - Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaenicke
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grether-Beck
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Floc'h
authors.forename: Ahsène
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheniti
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piccardi
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krutmann
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007778:Lactobacillus; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: C573420:ICAM1 protein, human; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene
keywords: ICAM-1; lycopene; polymorphic light eruption; systemic photoprotection; β-carotene