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| Science Forum Index » Life Extension Forum » Long-term ingestion of high flavanol cocoa provides photopro |
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| Olafur Pall Olafsson |
 Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 8:25 pm |
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J Nutr. 2006 Jun;136(6):1565-9. Related Articles, Links
Long-term ingestion of high flavanol cocoa provides photoprotection
against UV-induced erythema and improves skin condition in women.
Heinrich U, Neukam K, Tronnier H, Sies H, Stahl W.
Institut fur Experimentelle Dermatologie, Universitat Witten-Herdecke,
Germany.
Dietary antioxidants contribute to endogenous photoprotection and are
important for the maintenance of skin health. In the present study, 2
groups of women consumed either a high flavanol (326 mg/d) or low
flavanol (27 mg/d) cocoa powder dissolved in 100 mL water for 12 wk.
Epicatechin (61 mg/d) and catechin (20 mg/d) were the major flavanol
monomers in the high flavanol drink, whereas the low flavanol drink
contained 6.6 mg epicatechin and 1.6 mg catechin as the daily dose.
Photoprotection and indicators of skin condition were assayed before
and during the intervention. Following exposure of selected skin areas
to 1.25 x minimal erythemal dose (MED) of radiation from a solar
simulator, UV-induced erythema was significantly decreased in the high
flavanol group, by 15 and 25%, after 6 and 12 wk of treatment,
respectively, whereas no change occurred in the low flavanol group. The
ingestion of high flavanol cocoa led to increases in blood flow of
cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, and to increases in skin density
and skin hydration. Skin thickness was elevated from 1.11 +/- 0.11 mm
at wk 0 to 1.24 +/- 0.13 mm at wk 12; transepidermal water loss was
diminished from 8.7 +/- 3.7 to 6.3 +/- 2.2 g/(h x m2) within the same
time frame. Neither of these variables was affected in the low flavanol
cocoa group. Evaluation of the skin surface showed a significant
decrease of skin roughness and scaling in the high flavanol cocoa group
compared with those at wk 12. Dietary flavanols from cocoa contribute
to endogenous photoprotection, improve dermal blood circulation, and
affect cosmetically relevant skin surface and hydration variables.
Publication Types:
Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 16702322 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
The increase in skin blood flow was very impressive, see this quote
from the full text:
"In the present study, we found an increase in cutaneous and
subcutaneous blood flow in women supplemented for 12 wk with a cocoa
beverage rich in flavanols. At wk 12, blood flow increased ~100% at 1
mm depth and ~40% at 7-8 mm depth compared with baseline. The effect
was less pronounced but was significant after 6 wk of intervention. No
change occurred in women supplemented with the low flavanol cocoa
beverage." |
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