Research suggests support for suncare protection supplements

Supplements that offer skin protection from the sun would be an appealing offering to consumers, it has been revealed.

Research carried out by wellness company Lycored discovered that nine out of ten (89%) consumers liked the idea of a supplement that could promote a healthier relationship between their skin and the sun, with 44% finding it very appealing.

Avoiding skin damage while exercising outdoors was a concern for 63% of respondents ahead of muscular injury (53%) and avoiding illness (51%), with 70% of respondents reporting having experienced damage to their skin, such as sunburn, at some point.

Lycored's nutrient complex for suncare supplements, Lycoderm™, features a proprietary complex of Tomato phytonutrients and Rosemary leaf, with optimal concentrations of lycopene, phytoene and phytofluene, as well as Carnosic acid and naturally occurring vitamins A and E.  In 2019, a study found that Lycoderm™ could help balance the skin's response to environmental challenges, specifically tracking UV-induced erythema formation as well as skin biomarkers such as TNFα and IL-6.*

Lycored surveyed 508 physically active consumers in the US, Australia and New Zealand in October 2020. Commenting on the company's research, Zev Ziegler, Vice President of Brand and Marketing at Lycored, says: 

“It's important for all of us to look after our skin, and this need is heightened when we exercise outdoors. Sun-aware behaviour, in particular the use of sunscreen, is the best protection strategy, and ingestible suncare is no substitute. However, there is a growing body of evidence that nutrients such as beta-carotene and lycopene can offer additional environmental stress benefits.”

He adds: 

“It's natural that physically active consumers love the idea of supplements that can promote a healthier relationship with the sun. What is perhaps surprising is that there aren't more sports nutrition products that specifically target suncare as a key aim, or hybrid products that combine it with other benefits.”

*Groten, K et al. ‘Tomato Phytonutrients Balance UV Response: Results from a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study', Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2019;32 101-108