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Skin wrinkling: can food make a difference?
M B Purba1, A Kouris-Blazos, N Wattanapenpaiboon
1International Health and Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences and Asia Pacific Health and Nutrition Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Journal of the American College of Nutrition
|April 11, 2001
Summary
Dietary habits influence skin aging. Higher intake of vegetables, olive oil, and fish, along with lower consumption of butter and sugar, correlate with less skin wrinkling in sun-exposed areas.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Dermatology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Skin aging, particularly wrinkling in sun-exposed areas, is a significant concern for the elderly.
- Dietary patterns are increasingly recognized as potential modifiable factors influencing skin health and appearance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between food and nutrient intakes and the degree of skin wrinkling in a sun-exposed site among diverse elderly populations.
- To identify specific dietary components that may be associated with reduced or accelerated skin aging.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 400+ elderly subjects from Sweden, Greece, and Australia.
- Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).
- Skin wrinkling was quantitatively measured using a cutaneous microtopographic method.
Main Results:
- Swedish and Greek elderly populations exhibited less skin wrinkling compared to Anglo-Celtic Australians.
- Higher consumption of vegetables, olive oil, fish, and legumes was associated with reduced actinic skin damage.
- Increased intake of butter, margarine, milk products, and sugar products correlated with greater skin wrinkling.
Conclusions:
- Dietary patterns significantly influence skin wrinkling in sun-exposed areas among older adults.
- Specific food groups, such as vegetables, olive oil, and legumes, appear to have a protective effect against skin aging.
- Conversely, high intakes of animal fats and sugars may accelerate the skin aging process.