A review on nutrition and skin aging

Background: Skin reflects the general health status and is not an exception in the process of aging. Intervention studies indicate that it is possible to delay skin aging and improve skin conditions through diet-based anti-aging strategies. The purpose of the current work was to review recent existing literature regarding the role of nutrition, for and against skin aging processes. Method: This review provides updates on the effects of nutrition strategies on skin aging developed during 2008-2014. Databases such as the ISI web of science, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were investigated. Result: The most important role of nutrition on skin aging is by restricting the generation or activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which is considered as the main cause of extrinsic skin aging. Excess sugar in daily diet accelerates aging processes through the production of advanced glycation end products that inhibit proper repair of collagen fibers. Monounsaturated and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have inverse association with severe photoaging. Antioxidants such as vitamins C, A, E, carotenoids, flavonoids and botanical antioxidants such as resveratrol, curcumin and green tea polyphenols effectively decelerate this process. Zinc, selenium and copper are coenzymes of metallothioneins and glutathione that reduce intracellular oxidative stress and result in skin protection. Conclusion: The link between nutritional issues and skin aging is an interesting but conflicting subject that requires many interventional studies. Intracellular antioxidant mechanisms are the most effective protection against skin aging.