Paprika xanthophylls and UV skin damage in people
What it found
In 46 healthy people, taking paprika xanthophylls daily for 5 weeks raised the amount of UV light needed to redden the skin and reduced UV-induced darkening compared with a placebo.
Facial skin measures were about the same in both groups.
What they found
Studies in people
Redness threshold
At 2 and 4 weeks, the group taking paprika xanthophylls had a significantly higher minimal erythema dose than the placebo group. This means more UV light was needed to make their skin red.
Skin darkening
At 4 weeks, UV-induced skin darkening was suppressed significantly more in the paprika xanthophyll group than in the placebo group.
Facial skin
There were no significant differences in facial skin parameters between the paprika xanthophyll and placebo groups.
What the authors conclude
“Our results indicate the efficacy of dietary paprika xanthophylls in suppression of UV-induced skin damage.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that dietary paprika xanthophylls are effective at suppressing UV-induced skin damage.
How it was done
Sunlight's ultraviolet rays create singlet oxygen in the skin, which causes acute inflammation. The authors say that building up antioxidants that quench singlet oxygen in the skin can suppress this photo-oxidative stress.
They ran a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 46 healthy volunteers. Each person's minimal erythema dose was measured before the study, then they took a capsule of paprika xanthophylls (9 mg) or a placebo every day for 5 weeks. Skin measurements were taken at weeks 0, 2 and 4.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The study lasted only 5 weeks, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
- It cannot show whether these changes lead to fewer skin problems in the long run.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Institute of Health Sciences, Ltd
The paper
- Title
- Effects of Dietary Paprika Xanthophylls on Ultraviolet Light-Induced Skin Damage: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Nishino A, Sugimoto K, Sambe H, Ichihara T, Takaha T, Kuriki T (2018). Effects of Dietary Paprika Xanthophylls on Ultraviolet Light-Induced Skin Damage: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Journal of oleo science. doi:10.5650/jos.ess17265PubMed 29877227DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error