Carotenoids and the Skin

 I have recently been asked about sunscreen in anticipation of summer. In 2007 a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, multi-center study found that the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin provided a number of benefits for the skin. These supplements provided a four-fold increase in protection from UV radiation-induced damage. The carotenoids also increased surface lipids and skin hydration and elasticity. That healthy glow that carotenoids impart to the skin is accompanied by many health benefits. One of the reasons that animals like deer do not suffer from sunburn is because their diets are high in carotenoids as a result of the diets they consume.

Carotenoids not only benefit the skin, but have also been shown to reduce the risk of a number of cancers.

Reference on carotenoids and the skin. Morganti, P.,et al., Beneficial Long-Term Effects of Combined Oral/Topical Antioxidant Treatment with the Carotenoids Lutein and Zeaxanthin on Human Skin: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study, Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2007;20:199–210.