Vitamin C, linoleic acid added to diet can benefit skin, British study shows

London - A new study suggests that increased dietary intake of vitamin C and linoleic acid is associated with better appearance of aging skin, Cosmeticsdesign.com reports.

The study, conducted by London-based consumer-product firm Unilever, used data from England’s first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the relationship between nutrient intakes and skin-aging appearance.

The results of the study, published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggest that higher intakes of vitamin C and linoleic acid, combined with lower intakes of fats and carbohydrates, are associated with better skin in older age. Data examined included 4,025 females between the ages of 40 and 74.

The study focused on dietary intakes of nutrients, as opposed to supplements. Studies on supplements often concentrate on multi-ingredient supplements and therefore make it difficult to determine which nutrient is having an effect, according to the researchers, who add that their study is the first to concentrate on daily nutrient intake rather than supplement intake.

Among other findings, the researchers report that lower dietary intake of vitamin C was significantly associated with the prevalence of wrinkled appearance and senile dryness of the skin. They theorize that that this is due to the vitamin’s antioxidant properties, the role it plays in collagen synthesis and its photoprotective qualities.

In addition, the study suggests that a higher dietary intake of linoleic acid has a role in reducing the chances of developing senile dryness and skin atrophy. The study also found that higher intakes of fats and carbohydrates were associated with increased chances of wrinkled skin appearance and skin atrophy.