Korean J Nutr.  2009 Sep;42(6):516-522. 10.4163/kjn.2009.42.6.516.

Effects of the Mixture of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pycnogenol and Evening Primrose Oil on the UV-Induced Pigmentation and Wrinkle Reductions in Human Skin

Affiliations
  • 1LG Household & Healthcare Research Park, Daejeon 305-343, Korea.
  • 2Department of Food and Nutrition, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
  • 3Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 501-746, Korea. seongkim@chonnam.ac.kr

Abstract

In this study, the effects of a mixture consisting of vitamin E, vitamin C, pycnogenol and evening primrose oil (mixture LGNC-5) on ultraviolet light (UV) induced pigmentation and wrinkle reductions of normal healthy volunteers were studied. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, each of 54 subjects took daily either 4 capsules of the mixture LGNC-5 (Group ABC; 282.5 mg/capsule) or placebo (Group Ganada). We irradiated 2.5 MED UV on the upper arms and measured the whitening effect by colorimeter-based L value. The level of wrinkle reduction was determined by image analysis using skin replica around the crow' feet, and the level of serum vitamin E was determined at baseline and 12 weeks. After 12-week oral administration, the treated group showed a significant reduction in skin pigmentation and wrinkles compared with the placebo group (p = 0.011 and p = 0.000005 , respectively). Also, the level of serum vitamin E was significantly increased in the treated group after 12-week oral adminstration of the mixture compared with that in the placebo group (p = 0.0001). In conclusion, 12-week oral administration of LGNC-5 as a dietary supplement could be effective to reduce both UV induced pigmentation and skin wrinkle without side effects.

Keyword

pycnogenol; ultraviolet light induced pigmentation; wrinkle reduction

MeSH Terms

Administration, Oral
Arm
Ascorbic Acid
Capsules
Dietary Supplements
Flavonoids
Foot
gamma-Linolenic Acid
Humans
Linoleic Acids
Oenothera biennis
Pigmentation
Plant Oils
Skin
Skin Pigmentation
Ultraviolet Rays
Vitamin E
Vitamins
Ascorbic Acid
Capsules
Flavonoids
Linoleic Acids
Plant Oils
Vitamin E
Vitamins
gamma-Linolenic Acid

Figure

  • Fig. 1 ΔL values before and during 12 week administration of LGNC-5 (*ΔL = average L value at 4 or 8 or 12 weeks-average L value after UV at baseline).

  • Fig. 2 The wrinkle reduction by the mixture of vitamin C, vitamin E, pycnogenol and evening primrose oil (LGNC-5).


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