Fruit and Vegetable Juice Concentrate Increases Skin Health

The study reinforces the importance of nutrition in maintaining healthy skin. Scientists have found that nutritional deficiencies have a strong correlation with skin disorders and negative changes in skin structure.

Jan 10 2012 --- A new study published in the January 2012 issue of Skin Pharmacology and Physiology* shows that the regular intake of fruit and vegetable concentrates can improve objective markers of skin health. After twelve weeks, those taking the food supplement (Juice Plus+ Orchard Blend and Juice Plus+ Garden Blend; NSA, LLC, Collierville, Tenn., USA) showed an increase in skin microcirculation, a process resulting in positive changes to the density, thickness and hydration of the skin.

Conducted in Germany by the Institute for Experimental Dermatology at the University of Witten-Herdecke, the study followed 52 middle-aged women for twelve weeks using a monocentric, double-blind placebo and randomized controlled design. Participants were given capsules of the concentrate or a placebo two times each day during the study period. Measuring skin density and thickness by ultrasound, measuring skin hydration by Corneometer and assessing transepidermal water loss and serum analysis for carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol, scientists found that microcirculation of the skin had increased (39%) at the end of twelve weeks in the active group. They also saw increased skin hydration (9%), thickness (6%) and density (16%) among those given the concentrate. The placebo group showed a decrease in microcirculation and a slight increase in skin density.

The process of microcirculation is responsible for circulating oxygen and nutrients to the skin. As the study demonstrates, the skin benefits from an optimal supply of nutrients and oxygen to facilitate skin cell metabolism, producing what is often visible skin improvements.

The study reinforces the importance of nutrition in maintaining healthy skin. Scientists have found that nutritional deficiencies have a strong correlation with skin disorders and negative changes in skin structure. Additionally, it is known that skin density and thickness decrease naturally during the aging process.

Although it is unknown if the aging process can be counteracted by micronutrients, the study demonstrates that the intake of a fruit and vegetable-based concentrate improves markers of overall skin health.