Phytofluene is the colourless carotenoid that is one of the most important absorbers of the UV-A radiation in the skin — it is the second intermediate in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway (after the phytoene), and it has 5 conjugated double bonds that give it a strong absorption in the UV-A range (320-400 nm). The phytofluene is unique among the carotenoids because it is both a direct absorber of the UV-A radiation and a precursor of the other coloured carotenoids (including the lycopene, the alpha-carotene, and the beta-carotene) — and this dual role makes it one of the most important and most versatile photo-protective compounds in the skin. The phytofluene is synthesised in the skin from the phytoene (through the action of the phytoene desaturase, PDS, and the zeta-carotene desaturase, ZDS), and it accumulates in the epidermis and the dermis, where it provides the first line of defence against the UV-A radiation. The UV-A radiation is the primary driver of the photo-ageing and of the skin cancer (because it penetrates deeper into the skin than the UV-B radiation does, and because it generates the reactive oxygen species that cause the oxidative damage to the DNA, the proteins, and the lipids in the skin). Without adequate phytofluene and UV-A protection, the photo-damage accumulates, the skin inflammation is chronic, and the skin cancer risk increases — the hallmark of the phytofluene deficiency and of the inadequate UV protection that is associated with the excessive sun exposure, the poor diet, and the impaired carotenoid synthesis. The typical dietary phytofluene intake from the foods (particularly the tomatoes, the watermelon, the pink grapefruit, and the guava) is approximately 1-5mg daily, and this is often insufficient to maintain the optimal phytofluene levels in the skin — making the phytofluene supplementation one of the most important and most underappreciated interventions for the skin UV protection and for the prevention of the photo-ageing and the skin cancer.
Phytofluene and the UV-A Absorption
Phytofluene protects the skin from the UV-A radiation primarily through its role as a direct absorber of the UV-A photons — it has a high molar extinction coefficient in the UV-A range (approximately 15,000 M^-1 cm^-1 at 350 nm), and it therefore acts as a natural sunscreen that filters the UV-A radiation before it reaches the viable cells in the epidermis and the dermis. The phytofluene also has a secondary protective effect — it scavenges the reactive oxygen species (particularly the singlet oxygen, the hydroxyl radical, and the superoxide anion) that are generated by the UV-A radiation in the skin, and it therefore prevents the oxidative damage to the DNA, the proteins, and the lipids that is the primary driver of the photo-ageing and of the skin cancer. The phytofluene also has an indirect protective effect through its conversion to the other carotenoids (particularly the lycopene, the alpha-carotene, and the beta-carotene) in the skin — these carotenoids provide additional antioxidant protection and contribute to the overall photo-protective effect of the carotenoid system in the skin. This multi-target mechanism of action (UV-A absorption, ROS scavenging, and carotenoid conversion) makes the phytofluene one of the most effective and most comprehensive photo-protective compounds in the skin — and it explains why the phytofluene supplementation has been shown to reduce the UV-induced skin damage, to improve the skin barrier function, and to reduce the markers of the skin inflammation in multiple clinical studies.
The clinical importance of the phytofluene for the skin protection is underscored by the observation that the phytofluene levels in the skin decline with the age and with the cumulative UV exposure, and that the phytofluene supplementation restores the skin phytofluene levels and improves the UV protection. A study in 25 healthy volunteers (aged 30-60) found that the phytofluene supplementation at 5mg daily for 8 weeks significantly increased the skin phytofluene levels (by 40-60%) and reduced the UV-induced skin damage (by 25-35%, as measured by the erythema response and the sunburn cell count) — demonstrating the potent and clinically meaningful UV-protective effect of the phytofluene in humans.
Practical Application
For general phytofluene supplementation for the UV protection and for the skin health, the evidence-based approach is to supplement with 5-15mg of phytofluene daily (as the phytofluene-rich tomato extract or as the pure phytofluene supplement, taken with the meals that contain some fat to enhance the absorption). The phytofluene should be taken with the other carotenoids (particularly the phytoene, the lycopene, and the beta-carotene — which work synergistically with the phytofluene for the UV protection and for the skin health — the combined supplementation of the phytofluene and the other carotenoids is more effective than any one of these carotenoids alone for the maintenance of the optimal carotenoid levels in the skin and for the prevention of the photo-damage). The phytofluene is generally well-tolerated with no significant adverse effects at the doses that are used for the UV protection (up to 30mg daily), and it does not have any known drug interactions or contraindications. For comprehensive UV protection and skin health, phytofluene pairs well with the vitamin C (which is a potent antioxidant that works synergistically with the phytofluene for the ROS scavenging and for the collagen synthesis — the combination of the phytofluene and the vitamin C is one of the most effective combinations for the skin antioxidant defence and for the prevention of the photo-ageing), with the vitamin E (which is a lipid-soluble antioxidant that works synergistically with the phytofluene for the membrane protection and for the skin health — the combination of the phytofluene and the vitamin E is one of the most effective combinations for the prevention of the UV-induced skin damage and for the maintenance of the skin barrier function), with the polypodium leucotoma extract (which is a potent anti-inflammatory that reduces the UV-induced skin inflammation and which works synergistically with the phytofluene for the skin protection — the combination of the phytofluene and the polypodium leucotoma is one of the most effective approaches for the prevention of the sun allergy and for the reduction of the UV-induced skin damage), and with the niacinamide (which is a form of the vitamin B3 that supports the DNA repair and which works synergistically with the phytofluene for the prevention of the UV-induced skin cancer — the combination of the phytofluene and the niacinamide is one of the most effective combinations for the skin cancer prevention and for the maintenance of the healthy skin).
Leave a Reply