Can dietary intake influence perception of and measured appearance? A Systematic Review

Abstract

Appearance-based interventions have had some success in reducing smoking and sun exposure. Appearance may also motivate dietary behavior change if it was established that dietary improvement had a positive impact on appearance. The aims of this review are to evaluate the current evidence examining the relationship between dietary intake and appearance and to determine the effectiveness of dietary interventions on perceived or actual appearance. An electronic search of English language studies up to August 2012 was conducted using Cochrane, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, SCOPUS and PsycINFO databases. Studies that included participants aged ≥ 18 years, that observed or altered dietary intake from actual food or dietary supplement use and assessed appearancerelated outcomes were considered eligible. Data from 27 studies were extracted and assessed for quality using standardized tools. Nineteen studies were assessed as being of "positive" and four of "neutral" quality. All observational studies (n=4741 participants) indicated that there was a significant association between various aspects of dietary intake and skin coloration and skin aging. The majority (16 studies, 769 participants) evaluated the effect of dietary supplements on skin appearance amongst females. Only one study examined the effect of actual food intake on appearance. Significant improvements in at least one actual or perceived appearance-related outcome (facial wrinkling, skin elasticity, roughness and skin color) following dietary intervention were shown as a result of supplementation. Further studies are needed in representative populations that examine actual food intake on appearance, using validated tools in a well-designed high quality RCTs.

The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health

“…Although there is no information specific to vitamin C and aging in the skin, many studies have attempted to determine the role of nutrition more generally [ 85 , 131 , 132 , 133 ]. A recent systematic review of studies involving nutrition and appearance identified 27 studies that were either dietary intervention studies or reported dietary intakes [ 134 ]. The analysis indicated that, in the most reliable studies, intervention with a nutrient supplement (15 studies) or general foods (one study) was associated with improved measures of skin elasticity, facial wrinkling, roughness and colour [ 134 ].…”

“…A recent systematic review of studies involving nutrition and appearance identified 27 studies that were either dietary intervention studies or reported dietary intakes [ 134 ]. The analysis indicated that, in the most reliable studies, intervention with a nutrient supplement (15 studies) or general foods (one study) was associated with improved measures of skin elasticity, facial wrinkling, roughness and colour [ 134 ]. Many of the nutrient interventions that showed a benefit included a high intake of fruit and vegetables, which contribute significant levels of vitamin C to the diet.…”

OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment of moderate to severe glabellar lines in Chinese subjects after laser therapy: A prospective, open-label, noncomparative study

“…Repeated facial expressions produce hyperfunctional facial rhytids, which progress with age, especially when associated with sun exposure, and in individuals who are heavy smokers or have poor diets (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). For some individuals, these lines are observed only with muscle contraction (dynamic rhytids), while for others, the lines are fully visible at rest (static rhytids).…”

Fruit, Vegetable and Dietary Carotenoid Intakes Explain Variation in Skin-Color in Young Caucasian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Our recent systematic review [ 12 ] examined research evidence on the relationship between food intake and appearance. Nine observational studies found significant associations between aspects of dietary intake and appearance.…”

“…Nine observational studies found significant associations between aspects of dietary intake and appearance. Findings indicated that well-conducted large observational studies using validated methods to assess exposure and outcomes are needed to further examine these relationships and to inform hypotheses and the design of future randomized controlled trials (RCTs) [ 12 ].…”