Soul on your face.

Objective: In Western society, the dominant cultural association with aging skin is a lessening of satisfaction with one’s body image. Interventions are needed that can prevent and treat skin aging and the resulting reductions in body satisfaction.

Methods: In an open-label pilot study, we examined the effect of a dietary supplement, Collagen Booster^TM by Reserveage Organics, which contains resveratrol and Biocell Collagen^®, in women who displayed visible signs of facial skin aging. Participants (N=29) took an oral supplement of Collagen Booster^TM (1,000 mg of Biocell Collagen^® and 100 mg of trans-resveratrol) daily for 6 months. They completed facial scans and self-report assessments of their skin and body satisfaction at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

Results: Participants had significant improvements in their percentage of facial pores and ultraviolet spots from baseline to 6 months (Ps<0.05). Body and skin satisfaction also improved significantly from baseline to 6 months (Ps<0.05), and were positively correlated at the baseline, 3-, and 6-month assessment points.

Conclusion: The findings provide preliminary support that the dietary supplement, Collagen Booster^TM, can reduce visible signs of facial skin aging and improve skin and body satisfaction. A randomized, placebo controlled trial is needed to verify our results.Introduction
Some studies have found that a young and thin appearance is a symbol of financial success, social acceptance, and interpersonal happiness for women.^1-3 As individuals age, however, the skin’s appearance changes due to a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic factors (eg, sun damage, smoking, diet).^4-6 Because of the emphasis some modern societies place on the importance of youthful-looking skin, it is not surprising that findings from recent studies indicate that aging skin has negative psychological consequences that become more pronounced with increasing age.⁷ These outcomes include reductions in self-esteem and social relationships, and increases in symptoms of anxiety and depression.^8-11

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There is also a growing interest in dietary bioactive antioxidant compounds, such as polyphenols, for their potential to improve both skin appearance and general health. Resveratrol is a polyphenol that has been researched extensively for its powerful antioxidant capacity.^18-20 Like many other polyphenols, resveratrol has a chemical structure that gives it the potential to act as a beneficial antioxidant through electron delocalization and reactions of certain functional groups.²¹ Along with its ability to impact cellular functions, its protective qualities may prevent the alterations in the extracellular matrix of the skin that occur with aging.¹⁶ The functioning of the extracellular matrix has a large impact on the aging of skin, a result of fragmented collagen fibrils present in the matrix.Resveratrol may specifically help reduce the intrinsic aging process (influenced by genetics), while restoring the skin and protecting it from the extrinsic (environmental) aging factors.²² Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in a number of age-related skin disorders. Oxidative stress has a large impact on the appearance of aged skin, and studies have been conducted to test the effects of nutricosmetics containing resveratrol on certain oxidative stress indicators. In the study conducted by Ghanim et al,²³ resveratrol was linked to reductions in the generation of reactive oxygen species, and additionally led to decreases in the proinflammatory markers p47, TNF-α, IL-6, and SOCS-3. More specifically, resveratrol may support the function and structure of the skin by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improving skin tone by reducing the impact of free-radical damage to the skin. ^24-25

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The participants were instructed to take 2 capsules daily of Collagen Booster^TM, for a total daily dose of 100 mg of trans-resveratrol and 1,000 mg of BioCell Collagen^®……..

Discussion
The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of the dietary supplement containing trans-resveratrol and collagen (ie, Collagen Booster^TM by Reserveage Organics) on outcomes related to visible signs of skin aging, as well as skin and body satisfaction, in women who displayed visible signs of facial skin aging. Using an open-label design, we found that 3 months of supplementation coincided with significant improvements in objective signs of skin aging, and skin and body satisfaction; and that these improvements were still apparent at 6 months. Additionally, body satisfaction and skin satisfaction were found to be strongly related. The supplement was well-tolerated, and no participants reported experiencing severe adverse effects from taking the study product. One participant did report mild gastrointestinal discomfort (ie, upset stomach).

—–Resveratrol may have the unique potential to protect the skin against the high oxidative stress levels to which skin cells may be exposed.³⁴ Indeed, the skin may be constantly exposed to pro-oxidant environmental stress from several sources, including air pollutants, ultraviolet solar light, and chemical oxidants. Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in age-related skin disorders. Our findings provide further support that resveratrol may be a promising strategy to improve the visible signs of skin aging and skin oxidative stress.²⁴ Additionally, our findings support previous research that has found that BioCell Collagen supplementation results in significant improvements in skin aging.¹⁷ The novelty of the product tested in the present study, Collagen Booster^TM, is that it contains both resveratrol and a unique collagen complex in 1 supplement. With regard to bioavailability of resveratrol, there is evidence that resveratrol and its metabolites accumulate within human cells in vivo in a tissue-specific manner, and this is highly dependent on the dosage. Further research is needed to examine methods to overcome the low absorption of resveratrol.³⁵

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In summary, the findings of our study indicate that a dietary supplement containing resveratrol and BioCell Collagen (Collagen Booster^TM) may improve some of the objective signs of aging (eg, reduction in ultraviolet spots), as well as both skin and body satisfaction. Additional experimental research is needed to confirm and clarify the benefits of collagen and resveratrol supplementation in the prevention and management of aging skin and overall physical and psychological health. Also, because many people are increasingly becoming concerned about youthful appearances at younger ages, future research should investigate the effects of collagen and resveratrol supplementation on skin and body satisfaction in younger populations.