title: Assessment of clinical effects and safety of an oral supplement based on marine protein, vitamin C, grape seed extract, zinc, and tomato extract in the improvement of visible signs of skin aging in men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin aging is a natural process that may be aggravated by environmental factors. Topical products are the conventional means to combat aging; however, the use of oral supplements is on the rise to assist in the management of aged skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the effects and safety of an oral supplement containing (per tablet) marine protein (105 mg), vitamin C (27 mg), grape seed extract (13.75 mg), zinc (2 mg), and tomato extract (14.38 mg) in the improvement of skin aging in men.
  
  
  METHODS
  This single-center, open-label, quasi-experimental clinical study enrolled 47 male subjects, aged 30-45 years, with phototypes I-IV on the Fitzpatrick scale. Subjects received two tablets of the oral supplement for 180 consecutive days. Each subject served as their own control. Clinical assessments were made by medical personnel and by the subjects, respectively. Objective assessments were carried out through pH measurements, sebumetry, corneometry, ultrasound scanning, skin biopsies, and photographic images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one subjects (87%) completed the study. Clinical improvements on both investigator- and subject-rated outcomes were found for the following parameters: erythema, hydration, radiance, and overall appearance (P<0.05). The objective measurements in the facial skin showed significant improvements from baseline in skin hydration (P<0.05), dermal ultrasound density (P<0.001), and reduction of skin pH (P<0.05). No statistical improvement in relation to sebum was found. The photographic assessment showed an improvement in the overall appearance. The results of the objective measurements were found to be correlated with the subjects' satisfaction by an increase of collagen and elastic fibers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of an oral supplement based on a unique biomarine complex, vitamin C, grape seed extract, zinc, and tomato extract produced improvements in the signs of skin aging in men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil ; KOLderma Clinical Trials Institute, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adilson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisangela Samartin
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Pegas Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elvira Cancio
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Assumpção
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Borba
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Calixto Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Sayuri
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Margareth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fidelis
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fávaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Stephanie Selma
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Barros Langen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcia Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Favaro de Arruda
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Nutritional Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Eva Nydal
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Abildgaard
keywords: antioxidants; dermal density; skin hydration; supplements