September 22, 2009

How vitamin C protects the skin

Research conducted at the University of Leicester in England, reported this year in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine, contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in vitamin C's ability to help heal and protect the skin. The vitamin is an essential cofactor for the synthesis of collagen, the predominant protein in skin and other connective tissue.

Tiago Duarte, Marcus S. Cooke and G. Don Jones previously reported the discovery of the upregulation of DNA repair in vitamin C supplement users. The current research examined gene expression and DNA damage and repair in cultured human skin cells known as dermal fibroblasts (which play a major role in wound healing) that were exposed to derivative of vitamin C.

"The exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation increases in summer, often resulting in a higher incidence of skin lesions," noted Dr Duarte, who is presently affiliated with the Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology in Portugal. "Ultraviolet radiation is also a genotoxic agent responsible for skin cancer, through the formation of free radicals and DNA damage."

In addition to vitamin C's well known ability to scavenge damaging free radicals, Dr Duarte's team uncovered additional mechanisms for the vitamin in repairing the skin and protecting it from further damage. "Our study analyzed the effect of sustained exposure to a vitamin C derivative, ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, in human dermal fibroblasts,” he explained. “We investigated which genes are activated by vitamin C in these cells, which are responsible for skin regeneration. The results demonstrated that vitamin C may improve wound healing by stimulating quiescent fibroblasts to divide and by promoting their migration into the wounded area. Vitamin C could also protect the skin by increasing the capacity of fibroblasts to repair potentially mutagenic DNA lesions."

"Even though vitamin C was discovered over 70 years ago as the agent that prevents scurvy, its properties are still under much debate in the scientific community," Dr Duarte added. "In fact, the annual meeting of the International Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine, which will be held this year in San Francisco, will feature a session dedicated to vitamin C, entitled 'New discoveries for an old vitamin'".

"The study indicates a mechanism by which vitamin C could contribute to the maintenance of a healthy skin by promoting wound healing and by protecting cellular DNA against damage caused by oxidation," concluded Dr Cooke, of the University of Leicester's Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine. "These findings of are particular importance to our photobiology interests, and we will certainly be looking into this further".

Skin aging

Our skin consists of two main layers: the dermis and epidermis. The dermis is the inner layer of skin that contains nerve fibers, fat cells, blood vessels, sweat and oil glands, and hair follicles. The dermis also contains collagen and elastin, two proteins that are responsible for the structure and elasticity of the skin itself. These proteins are subject to the process of aging. The sweat and oil glands in the dermis protect the outer layer of skin with a thin coating of oil and perspiration.

Scientists now believe that the free radical theory of disease also applies to the aging of the skin. Free radicals are unstable small molecules generated by an oxygen environment which require stabilization by the body's antioxidant system. Free radicals occur throughout every cell in our body simply by virtue of the fact that oxygen is our principal metabolic fuel. Strong sunlight readily generates free radicals in the skin. Our hands, face, neck, and arms are the areas usually chronically exposed to light. These parts of the body, particularly the face, are where aging of the skin shows up.

The skin protein collagen is particularly susceptible to free radical damage, and when this damage occurs, it causes the collagen protein molecules to break down and then link back up again in a different way; this is known as cross-linking. Collagen cross-linking causes the normally mobile collagen to become stiff and less mobile.

Science clearly substantiates the role that free radicals play in causing skin aging and the fact that topically applied antioxidants confer significant protection and can even partially reverse some aspects of skin aging. Indeed, various animal and human studies have proven that low molecular weight antioxidants, especially vitamins C and E, as well as alpha-lipoic acid exert protective effects against free radical damage (oxidative stress) (Podda et al. 2001).

October 3-4, 2009
Yes We Can . . . Think Outside the Box
A conference on science-based medicine Presented by the Robert Fishman Institute for Training & Research Nova Southeastern University, Health Professions Division 3200 S. University Dr., Davie, FL (Ft. Lauderdale area)

Topics Will Include:

• Evolution of bio-identical hormone therapy
• Stepping above the standard of care: By the book
• Genomics: A key to personalized and individualized medicine
• Endocrinology: The things we never learned in school about balancing our glands and hormones
• “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food”: Yes, clinical nutrition is science-based
• What’s best for your practice and your patient: The legal and political ramifications
• Neurotransmitters: The biochemistry and balancing of your body’s messengers

Speakers will include Eldred Taylor, M., Joe Veltmann, PhD, Robert Fishman, PD, R.p.h., CP.CN., Steven V. Joyal, MD., Lynn Lafferty, PharmD., ND, Tracy Hunter, P.D, Maria Mahmoodi, MD, and Scott Fogle, ND.

To register, call 1-866-598-6752, Fax 1-800-528-8984

For those conference participants who might need to book accommodations, Life Extension has secured a special rate of $89 per night for a limited number of rooms at The Westin Fort Lauderdale. Additional days at this rate before or after the event will be based on availability. Reservations must be made by September 30, 2009. Shuttle service to and from Nova University will be provided.

• Outdoor whirlpool
• WestinWORKOUT® gym
• Wake-up service available
• Luggage storage
• Express check-out
• And many more special features!

Call 1-800-791-4457 or visit: http://www.levacations.com/

Life Extension Update

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• Topical nutrients improve common skin complaint

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• Vitamin C, linoleic acid linked with younger-looking skin
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Life Extension magazine

• Revitalize aging skin with topical vitamin C
• Combating skin aging

If you have questions or comments concerning this issue or past issues of Life Extension Update, send them to ddye@lifeextension.com or call 1-800-678-8989.

For longer life,

Dayna Dye
Editor, Life Extension Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
954 766 8433 extension 7716
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