UV radiation is a kind of electromagnetic radiation released by both natural and manmade sources, such as welding torches and tanning beds. Sunburn, premature ageing, and skin cancer are just a few of the skin problems that UV radiation may cause.
A new study published in the journal Antioxidants found that eating grapes can help reduce skin damage from UV radiation. Two weeks of daily eating of two and a half cups of grapes improved research participants’ sunburn resistance. The study identified a potential relationship between the gut and skin since individuals with UV resistance also had unique microbiomic and metabolomic profiles. According to the study, the naturally occurring polyphenols in grapes may be the source of these health advantages.
The findings of this new study back up previous research in this area. In this study of 29 human volunteers, researchers examined the effects of swallowing whole grape powder, which is equivalent to 2 14 cups of grapes each day, on photodamage from UV radiation. Researchers were able to assess the skin reactivity of patients to UV light before and after they had ingested grapes for two weeks using the minimum erythema dose, which is the threshold quantity of UV radiation that induces significant reddening within 24 hours (MED). Metabolomic analysis was also performed on the gut microbiota, blood, and urine samples.
One-third of the patients developed UV resistance after ingesting grapes, and these same people saw significant changes in their microbiome and metabolome when compared to non-responders. Notably, the UV-resistant group showed lower levels of the same three urine metabolites as the control group. A particular metabolite, 2′-deoxyribose, is a strong marker of reduced photodamage and indicates different genetic profiles essential to individualised treatment.
Furthermore, three of the UV-resistant individuals had a long-lasting response, which meant that their UV protection lasted even after they stopped eating grapes for another four weeks. This study found a relationship between the gut-skin axis and UV tolerance, and some people can tolerate sunburns after eating grapes.
Skin cancer affects about 3 million Americans each year, primarily as a result of sun exposure. One in every five Americans will get skin cancer by the age of 70. Sun exposure is connected to 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancer cases and 86 percent of melanomas, respectively. Furthermore, the sun is considered to be responsible for 90% of skin ageing.
Hippocrates is credited with coining the adage “Let thy food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food,” according to lead author John Pezzuto, a professor and dean at Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts. Even after 2500 years, we are still learning the veracity of this assertion, as evidenced by this human study employing dietary grapes.
