To Determine the Activity and Mechanisms of Cranberries to Attenuate Skin Photoaging and Improve Skin Health in Women

Previous studies have shown that cranberry phytochemicals scavenge reactive carbonyls. Cranberry polyphenols have been reported to attenuate collagen degradation and inhibit oxidative stress in human cells. We hypothesize that cranberry juice consumption will attenuate skin photoaging and improve skin health in women via alleviate oxidative stress.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Skin Health
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Cranberry juice; Other: Placebo juice

Detailed Description

One of the causative factors of skin ageing is cumulative oxidative damages due to aerobic metabolism and UV irradiation. Cumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes collagen glycation and crosslinking which are direct causes of skin ageing. Previous studies have shown that cranberry phytochemicals scavenge reactive carbonyls. Cranberry polyphenols have been reported to attenuate collagen degradation and inhibit oxidative stress in human cells. It is unknown whether cranberry juice consumption could protect against UV -induced erythema and improve overall skin health. Furthermore, if it does have effect, what will be the mechanism? This human intervention study will be conducted to answer these questions. We hypothesize that cranberry juice consumption will attenuate skin photoaging and improve skin health in women via alleviate oxidative stress.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 22
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Lindsey Morgan Christman; Phone Number: 352-294-3731; Email: lchristman@ufl.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Liwei Gu, PhD; Email: Lgu@ufl.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32611
      • Recruiting
      • Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at University of Florida
      • Contact: Lindsey Morgan Christman; Phone Number: (352)-294-3731; Email: lchristman@ufl.edu
      • Contact: Liwei Gu, Ph.D.; Phone Number: (352)-294-3730; Email: Lgu@ufl.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy
• BMI (18.5-29.9)
• Body weight ≥110 pounds

Exclusion Criteria:

• Skin Cancer
• Smokers and frequent alcohol use
• Pregnancy
• Breast-feeding
• intake of medication that might influence the outcome of the study
• sunbathing or the use of tanning bed
• intake of vitamin/mineral supplements

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Group A; Participants in this arm will be provided cranberry juice to consume for 42 days in total. After a 10-21-day washout period participants will receive placebo juice for 42 days.	Other: Cranberry juice; cranberry juice cocktail provided by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.; Other: Placebo juice; apple juice added with flavor and colorants provided by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Active Comparator: Group B; Participants in this arm will be provided placebo juice to consume for 42 days in total. After a 10-21-day washout period participants will receive cranberry juice to consume for 42 days	Other: Cranberry juice; cranberry juice cocktail provided by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.; Other: Placebo juice; apple juice added with flavor and colorants provided by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline Skin color change after UV irradiation at 28 days	Irradiation will be applied to dorsal skin (region not typically exposed to the sun) using an FDA approved UVB phototherapy light and a UV light meter. At each assessment, skin color will be measured before and 24 h after irradiation. Skin color will be evaluated by a colorimeter using the 3-dimensional color system with L-, a-, and b-values. L- and b- values assess lightness and browning effects, respectively. The a-value (red/green-axis) is a measure for reddening (erythema). The Δa-values (a-value 24 h after irradiation minus a-value before irradiation) will compared between baseline through 3 months; decreasing Δa-values indicates a photoprotective effect.	Baseline, 28 days
Change from baseline Skin transepidermal water loss	Skin transepidermal water loss an will be measured using a Tewameter (CK Electronic GmbH, Germany). This is a handheld probes that allow for quick and easy measurements	Baseline, 28 days
Change from baseline SELS parameters	SELS (Surface evaluation of the Living Skin) parameters, including smoothness, roughness, scaliness, and wrinkles, will be determined using a Visioscan VC20. This hand-hold device scans a 1 cm x 1 cm skin area (https://www.courage-khazaka.de/en/scientific-products/all-products/imaging/16-wissenschaftliche-produkte/alle-produkte/150-visioscan-e). Visioscan VC20 scanner consists of a camera, a high- resolution video sensor, and a UVA light no hazardous to human skin.	Baseline, 28 days
Change in skin microbiome	For skin swabbing, a 4x4-cm square on a forearm will be swabbed with a cotton swab soaked in 0.9% sodium chloride with 0.1% Tween-20 in a Z-stroke manner.	Baseline, 28 days
Change in baseline skin pH	Skin pH will be assessed using a skin pH meter (CK Electronic GmbH, Germany). This is a handheld probes that allow for quick and easy measurements.	Baseline, 28 days
Change from baseline hydration	Skin hydration will be measured with a Corneometer (CK Electronic GmbH, Germany. This is a handheld probe that allows for quick and easy measurements.	Baseline, 28 days
Change in Skin erythema and melanin index	Skin erythema and melanin index will be assessed with a Mexameter, (CK Electronic GmbH, Germany). Each of these are handheld probes that allow for quick and easy measurements	Baseline, 28 days
Change in skin lipidome	Stratum corneum layer on forearm skin will be sampled with 16 D-squame® tapes using a standard noninvasive tape stripping technique. This will be sent for lipidomic analysis	baseline, 28 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Survival rate of human keratinocyte under UV light	The immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) will be cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium. Cells will be incubated with human serum collected after 2-hour and 4-hour cranberry juice intake or water intake for 24 hours.	24 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Florida
• Collaborators: Ocean Spray, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Liwei Gu, PhD, University of Florida

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Ramasamy R, Yan SF, Schmidt AM. Receptor for AGE (RAGE): signaling mechanisms in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011 Dec;1243:88-102. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06320.x.
• Liu H, Liu H, Wang W, Khoo C, Taylor J, Gu L. Cranberry phytochemicals inhibit glycation of human hemoglobin and serum albumin by scavenging reactive carbonyls. Food Funct. 2011 Aug;2(8):475-82. doi: 10.1039/c1fo10087d. Epub 2011 Aug 8.
• Heinrich U, Moore CE, De Spirt S, Tronnier H, Stahl W. Green tea polyphenols provide photoprotection, increase microcirculation, and modulate skin properties of women. J Nutr. 2011 Jun;141(6):1202-8. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.136465. Epub 2011 Apr 27.
• Heinrich U, Neukam K, Tronnier H, Sies H, Stahl W. Long-term ingestion of high flavanol cocoa provides photoprotection against UV-induced erythema and improves skin condition in women. J Nutr. 2006 Jun;136(6):1565-9. doi: 10.1093/jn/136.6.1565.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 7, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 3, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 3, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 22, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 2, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): December 3, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 6, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2023
• Last Verified: June 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB201903250

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No