Volume :
2
Issue :
1
Abstract :
Excessive exposure of unprotected skin to sunlight results in sunburn and can also lead to photo-induced oxidation, inflammation, immunosuppression, aging and even carcinogenesis of skin cells. Pre-clinical studies shows that typical dietary antioxidant, could reduce such damages. Astaxanthin is believed to protect the skin against UV-light photo-oxidation and the in vitro protective effect of astaxanthin against UV-induced photooxidation was stronger when compared with β-carotene and lutein. These findings suggest that astaxanthin has an excellent potential as an oral sun-protectant. Although diet supplementation with β-carotene or astaxanthin has demonstrated benefits in other types of cancer, the animal or clinical studies with these two compounds are inconclusive when it comes to skin cancer. More studies are needed to better understand the possible interactions between various antioxidants and their potential prooxidative role, to determine under which conditions supplementation with carotenoids such as astaxanthin can help reduce skin carcinogenesis.