Supplements may help skin of smokers

Antioxidants, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids may help the skin of smokers to appear younger, U.S. researchers suggest.

Robert C. Spitale of Stanford University School of Medicine in California and colleagues say cigarette smoking is well-known to be associated with accelerated skin aging, cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, in large part due to oxidative stress.

"In this study, we explore the potential effects of commonly available oral supplements containing antioxidants, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids on 11 smokers compared to 17 non-smokers," Spitale said in a statement. "At baseline and after 12 weeks of supplementation, metabolomic analysis was performed on serum by liquid and gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy. Furthermore, clinical parameters of skin aging was assessed by three dermatologist raters who did not know the subjects' age and smoking status."

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