Researchers at Kookmin College within the Republic of Korea reported that hawthorn fruit consumption might have potential anti-aging results on pores and skin. They famous that their findings “could also be informative for formulating personalised anti-aging useful meals sooner or later.”
The research included 36 adults who acquired both 900 mg of powdered hawthorn berry or a placebo for six months. The researchers studied leukocyte telomere size (TL), thought to be a marker of organic age, and its affiliation with facial pores and skin phenotypes.
They discovered that hydration was positively correlated with leucocyte TL and was extra noticeable amongst particular genotypes.
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) has been broadly utilized in conventional medication for its herbal properties, together with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cardiovascular illness, anticancer and digestive-enhancing features. It’s a wealthy supply of bioactive substances, together with polyphenols, flavonoids and triterpenoids, and is utilized in meals purposes and nutraceuticals.
Nevertheless, there may be at the moment an absence of analysis evaluating hawthorn fruit extract in skincare purposes, notably in relation to particular pores and skin phenotypes.
Innovation in skincare
With longevity a key trend in 2025, customers and producers are specializing in innovation in anti-aging skincare.
Epigenomics, the research of modifications to DNA which will happen resulting from environmental enter, is rising as a method that some manufacturers are exploring to enhance beauty and provide holistic skincare solutions.
Telomere size in cells has been extensively studied as a biomarker for ageing. As cells divide, telomeres shorten and finally enter a state of senescence, the place they cease dividing however stay biologically lively. Over time, senescent cells accumulate, contributing to indicators of pores and skin ageing comparable to wrinkles, texture modifications, and pigmentation.
Genetic polymorphisms can have an effect on telomere size and telomerase exercise. The present research discovered that the skin-hydrating results of hawthorn berry powder have been extra pronounced amongst carriers of particular genes.
Nevertheless, the telomere size didn’t differ between the complement and management group, which the researchers hypothesize could also be resulting from inadequate pattern dimension, intervention interval and complement doses.
“Extra information concerning the genotype-specific results are warranted,” they wrote.
Examine particulars
The research was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm parallel-group superiority trial involving 41 members, 36 of whom accomplished preliminary and follow-up examinations over six months.
Female and male members between the ages of 25 and 75 consumed 900 mg every day of a powdered hawthorn fruit complement or placebo.
The researchers measured facial pores and skin phenotypes, together with pigmentation, pores, hydration, wrinkles and elasticity, earlier than and after the intervention. They analyzed leukocyte telomere size (TL) utilizing blood samples and picked up oral epithelial samples for genotyping.
Findings revealed that the hawthorn fruit supplementation group confirmed improved hydration scores in comparison with the management, however modifications in different phenotypes and leukocyte TL have been related between the teams.
“The genotype-specific evaluation revealed that the development of hydration state was most noticeable amongst carriers with the CC genotype of rs7705526,” the researchers wrote. “[T]he HF supplementation group exhibited decreased wrinkle scores whereas the management group confirmed elevated scores amongst carriers of the AA genotype of rs2853669.”
As well as, hydration scores have been positively correlated with leukocyte TL for all members.
Supply: Vitamins 2025, 17(12), 1983. doi: 10.3390/nu17121983. “Results of Hawthorn Fruit Supplementation on Facial Pores and skin Phenotypes and Leukocyte Telomere Size Stratified by TERT Polymorphisms”. Authors: M. Kim et al.