Protection from sunburn with beta-Carotene--a meta-analysis.

Abstract

Nutritional protection against skin damage from sunlight is increasingly advocated to the general public, but its effectiveness is controversial. In this meta-analysis, we have systematically reviewed the existing literature on human supplementation studies on dietary protection against sunburn by beta-carotene. A review of literature until June 2007 was performed in PubMed, ISI Web of Science and EBM Cochrane library and identified a total of seven studies which evaluated the effectiveness of beta-carotene in protection against sunburn. Data were abstracted from these studies by means of a standardized data collection protocol. The subsequent meta-analysis showed that (1) beta-carotene supplementation protects against sunburn and (2) the study duration had a significant influence on the effected size. Regression plot analysis revealed that protection required a minimum of 10 weeks of supplementation with a mean increase of the protective effect of 0.5 standard deviations with every additional month of supplementation. Thus, dietary supplementation of humans with beta-carotene provides protection against sunburn in a time-dependent manner.

• Authors: Wolfgang Köpcke, Jean Krutmann
• Journal: Photochemistry and photobiology (Photochem Photobiol) 2008 Mar-Apr Vol. 84 Issue 2 Pg. 284-8 ISSN: 0031-8655 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18086246 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)

Chemical References

• beta Carotene

Topics

• Humans
• Sunburn (prevention & control)
• beta Carotene (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)