A recent study has revealed a fruit that, if eaten daily, may help the skin resist sun damage and delay signs of aging by directly altering the activity of genes associated with skin health.
The study showed that consuming three servings of grapes daily for two weeks led to positive changes in the skin genes of the participants, although the nature of these changes varied from person to person. Researchers also observed a decrease in malondialdehyde levels, a marker associated with oxidative stress and cell damage caused by ultraviolet radiation.
This decrease means that the skin became less susceptible to damage caused by sunlight, even in some participants who did not show a clear increase in resistance to sunburn.
The researchers explained that grapes enhance the activity of genes responsible for forming the skin's protective barrier, which shields the skin from germs and chemicals and retains moisture. Strengthening this barrier helps the skin better withstand harmful environmental factors, especially ultraviolet radiation.
Dr. John Pezzotto, who led the study, said that the effect of grapes is not limited to the skin, but is likely to extend to other organs in the body, such as the liver, muscles, kidneys and brain, noting that food can directly affect the way genes work.
The research team believes that this process begins inside the intestines, when grape compounds interact with gut bacteria, and then the signals travel through what is known as the gut-skin axis to influence the activity of skin genes.
The study included 29 healthy volunteers, and its results were published in the journal ACS Nutrition Science. For two weeks, participants consumed a powder made from freeze-dried grapes, equivalent to about three cups of fresh grapes daily.
The researchers analyzed skin biopsies and blood samples before and after the experiment, with the aim of measuring changes in gene activity and different levels of fat in the body.
The results also showed elevated levels of beneficial fats associated with skin cell structure, particularly unsaturated fatty acids, which are fats that help maintain skin elasticity, strengthen its natural barrier, and reduce inflammation.
Researchers believe these findings could be important in preventing skin cancer, as continuous exposure to ultraviolet radiation damages DNA within skin cells, which can cause abnormal cell growth and the development of various types of cancer.
Melanoma skin cancer (melanoma) is the most dangerous type of skin cancer because of its ability to spread rapidly to other organs in the body, although early detection greatly increases the chances of recovery.
