Orange Juice for Skin Health

Overseen By Yavuz Yagiz, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Florida

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Breast-feeding, Skin cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 28 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether daily consumption of orange juice can improve skin health by reducing sun damage, inflammation, and other skin issues. Participants will consume both orange juice and a placebo drink (SunnyD) to compare effects. The trial seeks individuals with fair to medium skin tones who weigh at least 110 pounds and have a BMI between 18.5 and 29.9. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding the potential skin benefits of orange juice.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking any medication that might influence the outcome of the study.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that drinking 100% orange juice for ten weeks can help reduce wrinkles on the forearms, though it doesn't significantly change skin roughness. Some studies suggest that orange juice might protect skin from sun damage and improve overall skin health.

However, there is a downside. Consuming large amounts of citrus, like orange juice, has been linked to a higher risk of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Specifically, people who drank more than one serving of oranges a day had a 79% higher risk of melanoma compared to those who didn't consume oranges.

In summary, while orange juice might enhance skin appearance, it's important to be aware of the potential risks, especially with high consumption. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike typical skin health treatments that often rely on topical creams or medications, this trial explores the potential benefits of orange juice, a natural source rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Researchers are excited about orange juice because it offers a dietary approach, which could be more accessible and appealing to those looking to improve their skin from the inside out. While most skincare treatments focus on external application, the antioxidants in orange juice may help combat skin damage at a cellular level, potentially offering a unique and holistic approach to skin health.

What evidence suggests that orange juice might be an effective treatment for skin health?

This trial will compare the effects of orange juice with a placebo juice on skin health. Research has shown that regularly drinking orange juice can benefit the skin. One study found that consuming 100% orange juice for ten weeks significantly reduced wrinkles on the forearm and made the skin appear smoother. Another study suggested that drinking red orange juice daily for eight weeks lowered levels of LDL cholesterol and C-reactive protein, both linked to inflammation. Additionally, regularly drinking fresh orange juice increased the skin carotenoid score (SCS) by 6.5%, a measure related to skin health, although this effect faded a few days after stopping the juice. Overall, these findings suggest that orange juice might improve the skin's appearance and health by reducing wrinkles and inflammation. Participants in this trial will receive either orange juice or placebo juice (Fanta) to evaluate these potential benefits. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for women with a specific skin type (Fitzpatrick skin type 2 and 3), weighing at least 110 pounds, and having a BMI between 18.5-29.9. It's not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with high fruit intake, frequent alcohol users, anyone with impaired fasting glucose, history of skin cancer or using certain medications.

Inclusion Criteria

My BMI is between 18.5 and 29.9.

I weigh at least 110 pounds.

Fitzpatrick skin type 2 and 3

Exclusion Criteria

Impaired fasting glucose

I take vitamin or mineral supplements.

I am not taking any medication that could affect the study results.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either Orange Juice or Placebo for 84 days, followed by a 28-day wash-out period, then crossover to the other treatment for another 84 days

28 weeks

Regular visits for assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Orange juice
• Placebo juice (Fanta)

Trial Overview The study tests if drinking Orange Juice daily improves skin health compared to a placebo drink (Fanta). Researchers are looking at how OJ affects the body's defense against UV damage, wrinkles, and overall condition of the skin by studying changes in lipid composition and bacteria on the skin.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Orange Juice then Placebo juice (SunnyD) Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants will be provided orange juice for 84 days in this arm. After 28 days wash-out period, participants will receive Fanta for 84 days.

Group II: Placebo (SunnyD) then Orange juice Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants will be provided Fanta for 84 days in this arm. After 28 days wash-out period, participants will receive Orange juice for 84 days.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Regular consumption of orange juice can increase dermal carotenoids, which are indicators of antioxidant status, with a 10% increase observed in individuals with higher initial skin carotenoid scores after 25 days of daily intake.

The study found that while skin carotenoid scores increased with juice consumption, they returned to baseline levels shortly after stopping intake, suggesting that consistent consumption is necessary for maintaining elevated carotenoid levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Regular consumption of fresh orange juice increases human skin carotenoid content. Massenti, R., Perrone, A., Livrea, MA., et al.[2015]

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials involving 639 participants found that orange juice intake significantly reduces total cholesterol levels and improves insulin sensitivity.

While orange juice showed positive effects on cholesterol and insulin resistance, the overall quality of the evidence was low to moderate, indicating that further well-designed studies are needed to confirm these findings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of orange juice intake on cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Motallaei, M., Ramezani-Jolfaie, N., Mohammadi, M., et al.[2021]

Daily consumption of red orange juice for 8 weeks led to significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and C-reactive protein, indicating its potential to lower inflammation and improve lipid profiles.

The study also found that red orange juice improved insulin resistance and reduced blood pressure in normal-weight and overweight volunteers, suggesting its beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome risk factors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Red-fleshed sweet orange juice improves the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Silveira, JQ., Dourado, GK., Cesar, TB.[2017]

In a study with 16 healthy female volunteers, consuming 600 mL of blood orange juice daily for 21 days significantly increased plasma levels of vitamin C and other antioxidants, indicating its bioavailability.

The juice improved lymphocyte DNA resistance to oxidative stress, suggesting that blood orange juice may enhance the body's antioxidant defense system, although further research is needed to understand the long-term effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of blood orange juice intake on antioxidant bioavailability and on different markers related to oxidative stress. Riso, P., Visioli, F., Gardana, C., et al.[2021]

All tested orange juices from five different Citrus sinensis varieties demonstrated significant antioxidant effects, primarily due to their total phenol content, while ascorbic acid played a minor role.

The antioxidant activity is influenced by both the structural features of the phytochemicals and their ability to interact with cell membranes, with pigmented juices showing higher efficiency linked to their anthocyanin levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antioxidant effectiveness as influenced by phenolic content of fresh orange juices. Rapisarda, P., Tomaino, A., Lo Cascio, R., et al.[2019]

In a study of 56,205 postmenopausal Caucasian women over an average of 15.7 years, higher citrus consumption was linked to a slight increase in melanoma risk, particularly among those consuming citrus juice and spending more time outdoors.

Specifically, women with the highest intake of citrus juice (1+ servings/day) showed a 22% increased risk of melanoma compared to those with the lowest intake, highlighting the need for further research on the effects of citrus juice in relation to sun exposure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Citrus Consumption and Risk of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma in the Women's Health Initiative. Melough, MM., Wu, S., Li, WQ., et al.[2023]

Red-fleshed sweet orange juice (ROJ) and blond orange juice (BOJ) both showed cytotoxic effects on T acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells (Loucy), indicating their potential as chemopreventive agents.

BOJ was particularly effective, causing cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and inducing apoptosis through increased late apoptosis and necrosis, while ROJ primarily increased early and late apoptosis without affecting the cell cycle as significantly.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chemopreventive Actions of Blond and Red-Fleshed Sweet Orange Juice on the Loucy Leukemia Cell Line. Dourado, GK., Stanilka, JM., Percival, SS., et al.[2019]

Orange juice (OJ) has potential cancer chemopreventive properties due to its effects on metabolic enzymes and its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antigenotoxic effects, although most evidence comes from in vitro studies rather than human trials.

There is limited evidence of OJ's effectiveness in humans, and further epidemiological and randomized controlled studies are needed to evaluate its chemopreventive effects while considering the variability in OJ composition.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Orange juice and cancer chemoprevention. Franke, SI., Guecheva, TN., Henriques, JA., et al.[2013]

Chronic consumption of orange juice (OJ) significantly lowers systolic blood pressure and increases HDL cholesterol levels in overweight and obese adults, based on a systematic review of eight randomized controlled trials.

Despite these benefits, OJ consumption did not lead to changes in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, glucose, insulin, or inflammatory markers, indicating a selective impact on certain cardiovascular risk factors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does chronic consumption of orange juice improve cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Li, L., Jin, N., Ji, K., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12442491/

Ten weeks of 100% orange juice consumption had a marginal ... Ten weeks of orange juice consumption significantly reduced forearm wrinkles and showed a trend toward reduced skin roughness. However, no significant ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-8-2021-9cff3

Orange Juice for Skin Health Daily consumption of red orange juice for 8 weeks led to significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and C-reactive protein, indicating ...

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40969608/

Ten weeks of 100% orange juice consumption had a ... Ten weeks of orange juice consumption significantly reduced forearm wrinkles and showed a trend toward reduced skin roughness. However, no ...

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/395254117_Ten_weeks_of_100_orange_juice_consumption_had_a_marginal_effect_on_women's_skin_health_compared_to_a_low-flavanone_orange-flavored_control_beverage_a_pilot_randomized_trial

(PDF) Ten weeks of 100% orange juice consumption had a ... Ten weeks of orange juice consumption significantly reduced forearm wrinkles and showed a trend toward reduced skin roughness. However, no ...

5. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09637486.2015.1077794

Regular consumption of fresh orange juice increases ... In a second trial, SCS showed a 6.5% increase after 18 days of drinking juice every other day, but returned to initial values three days after last intake. Skin ...

6. skinhealthinfo.org.uk skinhealthinfo.org.uk/higher-orange-consumption-linked-to-increased-risk-of-melanoma-new-study-suggests/

Higher Orange Consumption Linked To Increased Risk of ... The research found that those consuming more than one serving of oranges per day had a 79% increased risk for melanoma compared to those with no ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8373643/

The Association between Citrus Consumption and Melanoma ... High citrus consumption was associated with an increased risk of melanoma in a large, prospective, population-based cohort.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453024001915

Health effects of fruit juices and beverages with varying ... This study examines the association between the consumption of FJBs at different processing levels and disease and explores the underlying mechanisms.