INCREASED DERMAL CAROTENOID LEVELS ASSESSED BY NONINVASIVE REFLECTIONSPECTROPHOTOMETRY CORRELATE WITH SERUM LEVELS IN WOMEN INGESTING BETATENE

beta-Carotene is being used as an oral sun protectant, and evidence in dicates that carotenoids may protect human skin from light-induced les ions. However, limited information is available on the distribution an d accumulation of beta-carotene in skin, especially with respect to va rious skin regions. With the use of reflection spectroscopy, we invest igated the accumulation of total carotenoids in human skin after repea ted supplementation of 12 women with beta-carotene from a natural sour ce Betatene, an algal extract. After daily ingestion of 24 mg beta-car otene (in Betatene) for 12 wk, an increase in carotenoid skin levels w as observed. Highest basal values were measured in skin of the forehea d, palm of the hand and dorsal skin, with lower levels measured in ski n of the arm and back of the hand. Upon treatment, increases in carote noid skin levels were found in all areas as follows: 2.4-fold in foreh ead, 0.7-fold in dorsal skin, 2.2-fold in the palm of the hand, 17-fol d on the back of the hand and 1.7-fold on the inside of the arm. After cessation of treatment, the carotenoid levels decreased in all skin a reas. Serum beta-carotene levels were elevated upon treatment and corr elated with carotenoid skin levels. Correlations for serum vs. skin fr om the palm of the hand (r = 0.94) and skin from the forehead (r = 0.8 9) were calculated, indicating that serum levels appeared to be a suit able indicator for carotenoid accumulation in specific regions of the skin. With doses of similar to 20-25 mg carotenoids/d, it is possible to raise dermal carotenoid levels.