In a study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, scientists found that grapes may help protect against damage to the skin caused by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation in healthy adults.
They found a 75% increase in natural skin protection when 19 healthy people orally ingested a powder of freeze-dried grapes for 14 days.
The study showed that a group of natural compounds—polyphenols, found in grapes as well as other fruits and vegetables—can reduce acute UV radiation damage in healthy adults.
Additionally, it can decrease proteins in the body that promote inflammation. This is the first study showing that oral ingestion of table grapes has a photoprotective effect on the sunburn response in humans.
The team says study results indicate that oral consumption of grapes has systemic beneficial effects in healthy adults. These benefits include inhibition of inflammation and repair of DNA damage.
In addition to the consumption of the powder, the team also showed that applying a topical extract made from a grape seed polyphenol, proanthocyanidin, can reduce sunburn cell formation.
Furthermore, preliminary results suggest that grapes may help to prevent skin cancers as well, although more studies need to be conducted in this area before drawing conclusions.
The researchers say that grape consumption may act as an ‘edible sunscreen’.
This does not mean that grapes should be used in lieu of sunscreen, but they may offer additional protection which we are eager to continue learning more about.
This research is exciting because our current findings provide building blocks for additional studies that may eventuate in an oral photoprotective product from a natural source.
If you care about skin health, please read studies about the top signs of diabetic skin disease, and red onion skin could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about skin health, please see recent studies about how tougher skin could change the shape of stealth aircraft, and results showing how to combat the effects of aging on your skin.
The study was conducted by Allen Oak et al and published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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