Assessment of clinical effects and safety of an oral supplement based on marine protein, vitamin C, grape seed extract, zinc, and tomato extract in the improvement of visible signs of skin aging in men.

BACKGROUND: Skin aging is a natural process that may be aggravated by environmental factors. Topical products are the conventional means to combat aging; however, the use of oral supplements is on the rise to assist in the management of aged skin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects and safety of an oral supplement containing (per tablet) marine protein (105 mg), vitamin C (27 mg), grape seed extract (13.75 mg), zinc (2 mg), and tomato extract (14.38 mg) in the improvement of skin aging in men. METHODS: This single-center, open-label, quasi-experimental clinical study enrolled 47 male subjects, aged 30-45 years, with phototypes I-IV on the Fitzpatrick scale. Subjects received two tablets of the oral supplement for 180 consecutive days. Each subject served as their own control. Clinical assessments were made by medical personnel and by the subjects, respectively. Objective assessments were carried out through pH measurements, sebumetry, corneometry, ultrasound scanning, skin biopsies, and photographic images. RESULTS: Forty-one subjects (87%) completed the study. Clinical improvements on both investigator- and subject-rated outcomes were found for the following parameters: erythema, hydration, radiance, and overall appearance (P<0.05). The objective measurements in the facial skin showed significant improvements from baseline in skin hydration (P<0.05), dermal ultrasound density (P<0.001), and reduction of skin pH (P<0.05). No statistical improvement in relation to sebum was found. The photographic assessment showed an improvement in the overall appearance. The results of the objective measurements were found to be correlated with the subjects' satisfaction by an increase of collagen and elastic fibers. CONCLUSION: The use of an oral supplement based on a unique biomarine complex, vitamin C, grape seed extract, zinc, and tomato extract produced improvements in the signs of skin aging in men.

Comparative study of the diffusion of five botulinum toxins type-A in five dosages of use: are there differences amongst the commercially-available products?

BACKGROUND: Diffusion halo profiles of different commercially available type-A botulinum toxins (BTX-A) have been studied. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the largest diameter of diffusion halos of 5 different doses of 5 different commercially available BTX-A. METHODS: Twenty-five adult female volunteers were included. Products with 100 units (100 UI) and the product with 500 units (500 UI) were reconstituted in a ratio of 1:2.5. Products were applied in five different concentrations (1 U/2.5 U, 2 U/5 U, 3 U/7.5 U, 4 U/10 U, and 5 U/12.5 U). After 30 days, a starch-iodine test was conducted to obtain the largest diameter of each halo. RESULTS: For all BTX-As, the higher the number of units used, the larger the diameter of the diffusion halo p<0.05). Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were observed between the North American and Chinese BTX-As for the three lowest doses, between the Korean and German BTX-As for all doses, between the French and Chinese BTX-As for the four highest doses, between the French and German BTX-As for all doses, between the Chinese and German BTX-As for the four highest doses, and between the North American and German BTX-As for all doses (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Differences were observed between all brands of BTX-As and between the different doses of each brand.