Monteloeder has released the results of a clinical study on its beauty from within nutraceutical, Nutroxsun, that demonstrates the ingredient's role in maintaining skin integrity and a youthful appearance.1
The two-phase trial looked at the impacts of supplementation with Nutroxsun both in vitro and in a group of healthy participants, finding that the ingredient could reduce damage caused by exposure to UVB rays.
This suggests the nutraceutical's protective potential for those with fair skin, as well as those who live in hotter climates with high UV exposure.
The ingredient comprises a synergistic combination of rosemary and grapefruit extracts, and will be be presented at this year's Vitafoods Europe 2025.
Two of the company's branded ingredients, MindRevive and RelaxPLX, have also been nominated for two Vitafoods Innovation awards in the Healthy Ageing and Cognitive & Emotional Health categories, respectively.
Protecting the skin from within
Although topical suncare solutions continue to be highly popular amongst all consumer types, many are now turning to solutions that work from within to fortify their current suncare regime.
For those living in big cities with consistent exposure to pollution, UV rays and other environmental stressors, nutricosmetics can be highly useful for supporting skin health and maintaining youthful looking skin.
Since photoageing is commonly associated with a reduction in collagen and elastin production, it can result in sagging, wrinkles and an increase in inflammation.
Through UV exposure, the generation of reactive oxygen species is boosted, which can contribute to oxidative stress — leading to redness in the short-term and the degradation of collagen over longer periods.
To assess the short-term impacts of UV exposure and how nutricosmetics can mitigate this effect, Monteloeder conducted a two-phase clinical study looking into the protective potential of Nutroxsun.
The studies
Published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, the first phase of the study looked into the photoprotective capacity of Nutroxsun on UV radiation-exposed human dermal fibroblasts.
Notably, when exposed to Nutroxsun, dermal cells experienced a reduction in markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Researchers also noted that the celullar markers commonly associated with the degradation of the skin's structural integrity were reduced.
This was seen through the modulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are responsible for the breakdown of the extracellular matrix between dermal cells.
The second phase was a randomised, placebo-controlled crossover trial that assessed the efficacy of the nutraceutical in 20 volunteers.
Participants were given either a low (100mg) or high (250mg) dose of the botanical, with results suggesting that Nutroxsun could reduce skin redness after UVB exposure.
"Although all participants experienced increased skin redness, those who took Nutroxsun showed a milder increase," notes Monteloeder's Chief R&D Officer, Nuria Caturla.
"While the placebo group's skin redness increased by 62.7%, the Nutroxsun 100mg group saw a 44.7% increase, while the 250mg group had just a 41% increase 24 hours from exposure," she adds.
By 72 hours, which is generally when UV-induced redness tends to reduce, both Nutroxsun groups had nearly returned to baseline, while the placebo group still showed elevated levels.
This suggests that the nutraceutical can promote rapid recovery after UV exposure.
Interestingly, the 100mg dose was found to exhibit a measurable benefit, but the 250mg dose was more effective in supporting skin recovery in fair-skinned participants.
Further studies tout Nutroxsun's efficacy
"This study serves as a positive follow-up to the encouraging results obersverved in previous studies," comments Caturla.
A previous two month clinical trial, which was conducted with 90 participants, found that the ingredient could reduce markers of skin lipid peroxidation associated with UVB and UVA exposure, as well as perceived improvements in skin texture, wrinkle appearance and skin elasticity.
During the study, more than three quarters of the participants assigned to Nutroxsun noted improvements in skin appearance and tone, while 73% said their skin felt firmer and 60% experienced a visible reduction in wrinkles.2
"Nutroxsun® was developed as a dietary solution to support the skin’s natural defense mechanisms in response to UV-induced oxidative stress,” affirms Mariana Ortega, Science Marketing Manager of SUANNUTRA.
"Rosemary and grapefruit extracts contain phenolic compounds, which work synergistically to neutralise free radicals generated by UV exposure — with these effects being relevant to both short-term and immediate responses."
“The results from the present study reinforce and expand on previous evidence supporting Nutroxsun®’s role in helping improve skin health and appearance when exposed to UV-related stressors,” adds Caturla.
“Rosemary extracts have been shown to help slow down collagen degradation further highlighting their potential to support dermal structure and resilience. Grapefruit flavones have been studied for their role in counteracting UVB-induced oxidative effects that may impact collagen integrity helping protect the skin by stopping UVB rays from breaking down collagen," she concludes.