UV photoprotection by combination topical antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E

Lin, Jing-Yi MD
Selim, M. Angelica MD
Shea, Christopher R. MD
Grichnik, James M. MD, PhD
Omar, Mostafa M. PhD
Monteiro-Riviere, Nancy A. PhD
Pinnell, Sheldon R. MD

Durham, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Elmwood Park, New Jersey; and Raleigh, North Carolina
From Duke University Medical Center,^a University of Chicago,^b PhytoCeuticals,^c and North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine.^d

Supported in part by R43CA83538 and a Kenan Grant from North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Dr Lin was supported by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.

Disclosure: Dr Pinnell is a consultant for SkinCeuticals, Garland, Tex. Dr Omar is president of PhytoCeuticals, Elmwood Park, NJ.

Presented in part as a poster at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, Los Angeles, Calif, May 15-18, 2002.

Accepted for publication July 20, 2002.

Reprint requests: Sheldon R. Pinnell, MD, Duke University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, PO Box 3135, Durham, NC 27710. E-mail: [email protected].

^*Dr Lin is currently at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

^**Dr Shea is currently at the University of Chicago.

0190-9622/2003/$30.00 + 0

doi:10.1067/mjd.2003.425

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 48(6):p 866-874, June 2003.

Background:

Virtually all plants and animals protect themselves from the sun using vitamins C and E.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to see if a combination of topical vitamins C and E is better for UV protection to skin than an equivalent concentration of topical vitamin C or E alone.

Methods:

We developed a stable aqueous solution of 15% L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and 1% α-tocopherol (vitamin E). We applied antioxidant or vehicle solutions to pig skin daily for 4 days. We irradiated (1-5× minimal erythema dose) control- and antioxidant-treated skin using a solar simulator with a 295-nm band-pass filter. On day 5, we measured antioxidant protection factor, erythema, sunburn cells, and thymine dimers.

Results:

The combination of 15% L-ascorbic acid and 1% α-tocopherol provided significant protection against erythema and sunburn cell formation; either L-ascorbic acid or 1% α-tocopherol alone also was protective but the combination was superior. Application during 4 days provided progressive protection that yielded an antioxidant protection factor of 4-fold. In addition, the combination of vitamins C and E provided protection against thymine dimer formation.

Conclusion:

Appreciable photoprotection can be obtained from the combination of topical vitamins C and E. We suggest that these natural products may protect against skin cancer and photoaging. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:866-74.)