Effect of Orally Delivered Phytochemicals on Aging and Inflammation in the Skin

Healthy Adults Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effect of Orally Delivered Phytochemicals, Alone, and in Combination, on Aging and Inflammation-Related Effects in the Skin

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03289832
• Other study ID #: IRB00117754
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 25, 2017
• Est. completion date: October 23, 2019

Study information

• Verified date: July 2020
• Source: Johns Hopkins University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The objective is to determine, in a small number of participants, the protective effects of UV-induced skin erythema (reddening or "sunburn") following oral administration of sulforaphane, curcumin, or a combination of the two plant (diet)-based supplements. The investigators will be using the over-the-counter nutritional supplements Crucera-SGS and Meriva-SF to deliver the biologically stable sulforaphane precursor and a highly bioavailable formulation of curcumin. Volunteers will be challenged with UV irradiation at 2-times the minimum erythematous dose (M.E.D.) on discrete 2 cm diameter circles on the upper buttocks. Skin redness will be monitored daily using a chromometer. Biomarkers will then be evaluated in blood, urine, and skin biopsies.

Description:

Oral sulforaphane (SF) delivery results in systemic protection of a wide variety of organ systems which The investigators hypothesize will also include the skin, based on animal studies and preliminary evidence in human volunteers. Since The investigators have only previously evaluated the ability of topical sulforaphane application to protect skin from UV-induced erythema, the next logical step is to evaluate the ability of oral delivery to affect the skin of healthy human volunteers. Curcumin is also a potent anti-inflammatory that acts upon different biochemical pathways from SF, and it is an antioxidant. It was discovered over a century ago, it has been the subject of well over a hundred clinical studies, and it has been an ingredient in common foods eaten by millions of people, for centuries. Before and after consumption of each of these common food ingredients, The investigators will: (a) measure the Phase 2 cytoprotective response in human skin, (b) determine whether it leads to reduced UV-induced erythema (reduced inflammation), (c) evaluate changes in age-related markers such as dermal elasticity, keratin and collagen levels, (d) measure advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in the serum, as biomarkers of systemic (including the skin) reduction in AGE levels, and (e) measure the levels of these biomarkers in skin punch biopsies. The investigators will also evaluate the effects of combined oral SF and curcumin. The investigators anticipate that there may be a true synergistic response between SF and curcumin, and the experiments designed herein are designed to show that synergy, if it exists.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 25
• Est. completion date: October 23, 2019
• Est. primary completion date: October 23, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 70 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18-70 years old, healthy

• Willingness to avoid sun exposure to study site

• Willingness to adhere to cruciferous vegetable-free diet

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of photosensitizing medications

• Use of medications that cause skin flushing

• Use of anticoagulants/antiplatelet therapies

• Allergies to anesthetic agents

• Use of systemic retinoids or steroids (excluding female contraceptives and levothyroxin)

• Topical retinoids or steroids at study sites

• Antibiotic use

• Current students of the Principal Investigator

• Procedures performed at the study sites

• Smokers/tobacco users

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Healthy Adults
• Inflammation

Intervention

Dietary Supplement:
• Crucera-SGS
Crucera-SGS is a commercially available dietary supplement. The active ingredient is glucoraphanin, a phytochemical from broccoli and it is prepared as a simple extract of broccoli seeds. Glucoraphanin is converted to sulforaphane by bacteria in the human intestines. Crucera-SGS is formulated by Thorne Research Inc. into gel-caps that make it much more convenient to deliver than having subjects eat broccoli every day.
• Meriva 500-SF
Meriva-SF is a commercially available dietary supplement. The active ingredient is curcumin, a phytochemical from the spice, turmeric, and it is prepared as a simple extract of this plant, formulated with lipids which aid in its absorption and metabolism. Meriva-SF is formulated by Thorne Research Inc. into gel-caps that make it much more convenient to deliver than having subjects eat turmeric powder every day.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Johns Hopkins	Baltimore	Maryland

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Johns Hopkins University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in Erythema 1 Day After UV Exposure	Brief ultraviolet (UV) exposure on small circular spots on the skin will produce erythema (reddening), to be measured with a chromameter and photographed in the days following UV exposure, both before and after subjects have ingested study supplement (Crucera SGS, Meriva 500-SF, or both), daily, for a week. These measures will be compared to erythema in the skin of the same individuals following UV exposure, but WITHOUT having ingested these supplements.	On day 8 of intervention
Primary	Change in Erythema 2 Days After UV Exposure	Brief ultraviolet (UV) exposure on small circular spots on the skin will produce erythema (reddening), to be measured with a chromameter and photographed in the days following UV exposure, both before and after subjects have ingested study supplement (Crucera SGS, Meriva 500-SF, or both), daily, for a week. These measures will be compared to erythema in the skin of the same individuals following UV exposure, but WITHOUT having ingested these supplements.	On day 9 of intervention
Primary	Change in Erythema 3 Days After UV Exposure	Brief ultraviolet (UV) exposure on small circular spots on the skin will produce erythema (reddening), to be measured with a chromameter and photographed in the days following UV exposure, both before and after subjects have ingested study supplement (Crucera SGS, Meriva 500-SF, or both), daily, for a week. These measures will be compared to erythema in the skin of the same individuals following UV exposure, but WITHOUT having ingested these supplements.	On day 10 of intervention
Secondary	Bioavailability of Supplement Metabolites in bodily fluids	Metabolites of both sulforaphane and curcumin will be measured in blood and/or urine samples. Curcumin is rapidly conjugated to glucuronides and sulfates, which will be enzymatically degraded prior to measurement. Glucosinolates are metabolized to sulforaphane which is in turn metabolized to compounds collectively called dithiocarbamates. All of these can be readily measured using the cyclocondensation assay which reacts with all of the dithiocarbamates to produce a chromogenic compound with a very high molar extinction coefficient that is measured spectrophotometrically. Comparing levels before and after intervention will allow inferences to be made about bioavailability.	Day 7 of each phase of intervention
Secondary	Change in metabolomic profile	Blood samples taken before- and after- the intervention in each of the treated arms will be assessed for an extensive spectrum of small-molecule metabolites. Assessment will be by Mass Spectroscopy, in what is known as an untargeted metabolomic screen. Statistically-assisted exploration of this data-set is expected to yield insight into the metabolic pathways that are up- and down- regulated (boosted or supressed [inhibited]) as a result of treatment with these supplements.	Day 7 of each phase of the intervention
Secondary	Change in tissue-based RNA biomarkers of inflammation	Biomarkers of inflammation will be measured in skin-punch biopsies. Biopsy measures will reflect inflammation at the site of reddening (e.g. sunburn). A limited [by tissue availability] number of assessments will be made by real time PCR.	Up to day 8 of intervention
Secondary	Change in tissue-based protein biomarkers of inflammation	Biomarkers of inflammation will be measured in skin-punch biopsies. Biopsy measures will reflect inflammation at the site of reddening (e.g. sunburn). A limited [by tissue availability] number of assessments will be made by ELISA, protein blotting and immunohistochemistry.	Up to day 10 of intervention
Secondary	Change in blood-based biomarkers of inflammation	Biomarkers of inflammation will be measured in blood, and will reflect systemic (whole body) effects that are not likely to be large. An extended panel of inflammatory cytokines and cytoprotective enzymes may be evaluated. Assessments will be by real time PCR, ELISA, and protein blotting.	Day 7 of each phase of the intervention
Secondary	Change in urine-based biomarkers of inflammation	Biomarkers of inflammation will be measured in urine, and will reflect systemic (whole body) cumulative effects that are not likely to be large. An limited panel of inflammatory cytokines and cytoprotective enzymes may be evaluated. Assessments will be by real time PCR, ELISA, and protein blotting.	Day 7 of each phase of the intervention
Secondary	Change in RNA markers of aging and protection from UV damage	Skin-punch biopsies will be evaluated for markers of an up-regulated cytoprotective response including protection from photooxidation damage, and biomarkers of aging that may include advanced glycation end-products (AGE), skin elasticity, keratins, and collagens. Assessments will be by real time PCR.	Up to day 8 of intervention
Secondary	Change in protein and small-molecule markers of aging and protection from UV damage	Skin-punch biopsies will also be evaluated for markers of an up-regulated cytoprotective response including protection from photooxidation damage, and biomarkers of aging that may include advanced glycation end-products (AGE), skin elasticity, keratins, and collagens. Assessments will be by ELISA, protein blotting and immunohistochemistry.	Up to day 10 of intervention