Imedeen Prime RenewalTM ViTeaTM Study
During 2003, Dutch researchers Nico Smit PhD and Professor Stan Pavel, MD, PhD, conducted a series of studies on various combinations of powerful antioxidants using in-vitro cultures of skin fibroblasts. The aim was to find the best combination of ingredients to protect skin cells against UV damage and to document their effect. The studies resulted in the development of ViTea, a skin protection complex.

Methods and Results
Skin fibroblasts were cultured using a well-established standard culture protocol. The fibroblasts were obtained from adult Caucasian skin, types II/III. The fibroblasts were treated with ViTea and then irradiated with UV-A light. Control fibroblasts without ViTea treatment were cultured and UV-A methods were used to analyze the extent of oxidative damage on lipids and DNA after UV irradiation. Furthermore, total production of free oxygen radicals was measured in fibroblasts treated with and without the ViTea ingredients.

Reduction Of Lipid Peroxidation
Skin fibroblasts were treated with and without ViTea and with a fluorescent compound that specifically indicates lipid peroxidation in cells. The cells were irradiated with UV-A light and intensity of fluorescence was measured. The higher the intensity, the higher the oxidative damage.

The study showed that treatment with ViTea reduced the damage on lipids significantly in skin fibroblasts after UV irradiation compared to untreated skin fibroblasts.

Reduction of DNA Damage
UV-A radiation causes DNA damage in skin fibroblasts. Skin fibroblasts were incubated with and without ViTea. The cells were irradiated with UV-A light and the amount of DNA damage was measured.



The study showed that treatment with ViTea significantly reduces DNA damage compared to untreated skin fibroblasts. Reduction of DNA damage after treatment with ViTea is statistically significant.

Reduction of Free Radicals
Free radicals are produced in skin fibroblasts. Skin fibroblasts were treated with and without ViTea and with a fluorescent compound that specifically indicates the amount of free oxygen radicals in cells. The intensity of fluorescence was measured by FACS (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting) analysis. The lower the intensity, the less free radicals present.

The study showed that treatment with ViTea reduced the amount of free radicals significantly compared to untreated skin fibroblasts.

Conclusion
Results showed that antioxidant ingredients present in ViTea are able to provide a comprehensive protection of all essential building blocks that cells are made of and reduce the effects of UV-related oxidative damage.

ViTea gives overall reduction of UV-induced damage in skin cells. It reduces the amount of total free radicals that initiate a range of damaging oxidative reactions in skin and plays an important role in skin aging. ViTea minimizes the damage caused by UV irradiation in essential building blocks such as lipids and DNA.