Cellular Photoprotective and Antioxidant Properties of Lipids in an Oral Skincare Supplement
Authors: Hall Steven Robert , Reid Anna‐Jean , St‐Onge Marc , Goralski Kerry B 
Published: June 2021

BackgroundOverexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is associated with multiple health risks from sunburn to skin cancers. The ingestion of natural product photoprotectors can increase skin's UV‐resistance. Our research focuses on the cellular effects of Bend Beauty, Inc.'s oral supplement called “Bend Skincare Anti‐Aging Formula” (AAF), which contains daily doses of the ω‐3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 1050 mg) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 350 mg), ω‐6 fatty acid gamma‐linolenic acid (GLA; 120 mg), carotenoids zeaxanthin (2.5 mg) and lutein (5 mg), and vitamin D3 (1,000 IU). A clinical trial found that ingestion of AAF increased the minimal erythema doses (UV exposure required to induce skin redness) of volunteers' skin by 84% after 8 weeks, warranting further research into AAF's photoprotective properties.ObjectiveTo quantify AAF's photoprotective and antioxidant properties in human dermal fibroblasts.Methods & ResultsExperiments were completed in primary human dermal fibroblasts (passage #3) treated with 0.005% AAF or vehicle control (10% H2O, 10% THF, 75% DMSO, 5% FBS). For the initial photoprotection assays, cells were treated with AAF or vehicle for 1, 7, or 14 days and exposed to UVA (365 nm; 216 J/cm2) or UVB (312 nm; 15.6 – 8,000 J/cm2). The viability of 1, 7, and 14‐day AAF‐treated cells after UVA exposure was 2.9, 4.2, and 3.5‐fold higher, respectively, vs. control (P < 0.05), and the UVB IC50s were 2.6 and 3.2‐fold higher in 7 and 14‐day AAF‐treated cells, respectively, vs. control (P < 0.05) as measured with MTT assays. For morphological analysis, 14‐day AAF‐ or vehicle‐treated fibroblasts were exposed to UVA (100 J/cm2) or UVB (1 J/cm2), stained with propidium iodide (PI; cell death marker), phalloidin (cytoskeleton stain), and Hoechst 32258 (nucleic stain) and imaged using confocal microscopy. After UVA or UVB exposure, the vehicle‐treated cells were visibly more damaged than AAF‐treated cells as assessed by actin staining, and PI staining was present in > 97% of the vehicle‐treated vs. < 8% of AAF‐treated fibroblasts (Figure 1). To quantify AAF's antioxidant effects, MTT assays were completed in 1, 7, and 14‐day AAF‐treated fibroblasts after 48 hours of treatment with the reactive oxygen species (ROS), H2O2 (11.1 – 2,700 mM); H2O2's IC50 values were calculated to be 2.0, 2.4, and 2.5‐fold higher, respectively, vs. control (P < 0.05). In identically AAF‐treated fibroblasts, assays to measure the intracellular ROS activity induced by H2O2 (0.9 mM, 1 h) using a ROS‐fluorescent probe (CM‐DCFH2‐DA) were completed. H2O‐2‐induced ROS activity was 67%, 63%, and 62% as high in 1, 7, and 14‐day AAF‐treated cells vs. control, respectively (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAAF helps to protect human dermal fibroblasts from the damaging effects of UVA, UVB, and H2O2, demonstrating its cellular photoprotective and antioxidant properties.Support or Funding InformationProject funding provided by Bend Beauty, Inc., Mitacs Elevate, and the Dalhousie Pharmacy Endowment FundThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.