Efficacy of MitoHeal ^® supplementation on adult skin quality and patient satisfaction: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, pilot study

Abstract

Aim

Polyphenols, the most abundant natural biochemicals found in fruits, vegetables seeds, red wine, cocoa, coffee and spices, may have cosmetic and health effects.

Methods

This was a 1‐month randomized, placebo‐controlled study, approved by the institutional review board. In total, 40 adults (mean age 44.65 years) were randomized to one of three groups: MitoHeal^® 500 mg/day, MitoHeal^® 1000 mg/day or placebo drink. Measurements were expert rating of professional photos of skin quality and patient self‐reported skin satisfaction at Days 0 and 30.

Results

The photographs and self‐report assessments revealed that, compared with placebo, MitoHeal supplementation resulted in improvements in skin quality and patient satisfaction from Day 0 to Day 30, with a dose–response relationship often evidenced (P < 0.05). No adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

Pilot data revealed that MitoHeal supplementation might be effective for improving skin quality and patient satisfaction. Larger sample sizes and trial durations are needed to determine the effects of MitoHeal supplementation on beauty and overall health.

The purpose was to examine the efficacy of daily use of MitoHeal^® supplementation (i.e. patented redcurrant and blackcurrant extract) on adult's skin, hair and nail quality. The photo and self‐report assessments revealed that MitoHeal supplementation compared with placebo resulted in significant improvements in face, hair and nail quality from Day 0 to Day 30, with a dose–response relationship often evidenced (P < 0.05).

To improve skin health, traditional interventions have included topical applications and shampoos. Recently, supplements have gained attention as an alternative intervention to improve the structure of the skin. In particular, supplements with polyphenol composition may be associated with beneficial cosmetic and health effects. ¹ , ² Polyphenols are the most abundant natural biochemicals found in fruits, vegetables seeds and spices, as well as red wine, coffee and cocoa. ³ However, research is needed to substantiate the potential skin testimonials and assumptions of many polyphenol supplements that are purported to improve skin health. ⁴ , ⁵ We performed a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, pilot study to examine the efficacy of daily use of MitoHeal^® (a patented redcurrant/blackcurrant polyphenol extract) supplementation on skin quality (e.g. wrinkles, brown spots, coarseness) in adults and on patient satisfaction, assessed using objective assessments and patient self‐reporting.

Report

Inclusion criteria included: healthy adults ≥ 35 years old, with mild to moderate wrinkles (as determined by the Glogau Wrinkle Scale), ⁶ Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I–IV, ⁷ absence of dermatological disorders and willingness to abstain during the study from prolonged sun exposure, artificial tanning and use of any topical or supplement products with claims regarding skin health. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, lactation or trying to conceive; use of a blackcurrant/redcurrant or polyphenol supplement in the past 2 months, use of chemical peels or dermabrasion in the last 6 months or use of hormone replacement therapy. To control for skin type influences on skin ageing, skin phototypes V and VI were excluded because they may experience photoageing at a deaccelerated pace. ⁸

The MitoHeal supplement (Specnova, VA, USA) comprises extracted redcurrant and blackcurrant compound (91.5%), starch (6.5%), silicon dioxide (1%) and carrot extract (< 1%). Participants were randomized using a random digit generator to one of three groups: MitoHeal 500 mg/day (n = 14), MitoHeal 1000 mg/day (n = 13) or placebo drink (n = 13). The MitoHeal and placebo powder were added to 8 fluid ounces (227 mL) of water. The placebo drink (unsweetened black cherry Kool‐aid^®; Kraft North America, Ryebrook, NY, USA) was matched for colour, sweetness and flavour.

Digital facial photos (front, right and left side of face at 45 degrees) were taken in Days 0 and 30 by a professional photographer at a photography studio. A board‐certified dermatologist (HH) and health researcher (MB) who were blinded to the conditions, assessed the photographs for skin quality (wrinkle severity, skin coarseness and brown spots). Wrinkle severity was assessed using a standardized six‐point ordinal photonumeric scale, graded from 2.5 (low wrinkling) to 5 (high wrinkling; 6). The Aging Skin Index was used to assess skin coarseness and brown spots graded from 0 (none) to 9 (7 is considered severe). The Skin Satisfaction Scale was used to assess skin satisfaction by the patient on Days 0 and 30, based on the following items: firmness, complexion, glow, pores, youthful appearance, fine lines, elasticity, wrinkles, smoothness, crow's feet, tone and overall skin satisfaction, using a Likert scale anchored at the extremes of 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied). The 10 items are added to compute a composite patient skin satisfaction score. ⁹

ANOVA was used to analyse the outcomes. Shapiro–Wilk and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests for normality were used to determine the parametricity of the data. Between‐group comparisons of frequencies were conducted using the χ² test. SPSS software (V24; IBM SPSS, Armonk, NY, USA) was used, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

In total, 40 adults (mean ± SD age 44.65 ± 6.95 years) were initially enrolled; 4 dropped out due to reasons unrelated to study participation, representing an adherence rate of 94%.

For skin quality, significant mean score improvements in wrinkle severity, coarseness and brown spots were found for the MitoHeal groups compared with the placebo group (Fig. 1). A dose–response relationship was evidenced for wrinkle severity and coarseness, with larger effects found for the MitoHeal 1000 mg group compared with the MitoHeal 500 mg group (P < 0.05) (Table 1). As well, a higher percentage of adults in the MitoHeal groups compared with the placebo group had improvements from Day 0 to Day 30 in wrinkle severity, coarseness and brown spots (P < 0.05) (Table 2). For patient skin satisfaction, participants in the MitoHeal groups reported higher skin satisfaction at Day 30 compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05) (Table 1). No adverse events were reported.

Figure 1.

(a) Appearance of skin at Day 0; (b) significant improvement of skin at Day 30 of treatment with MitoHeal^®.

Table 1.

Skin quality assessments.

Outcome a	Baseline, mean ± SD			Day 30, mean ± SD
	500 mg	1000 mg	Placebo	500 mg	1000 mg	Placebo
Wrinkle severity b	3.56 ± 0.50	4.00 ± 0.94	3.44 ± 0.92	3.25 ± 0.46	3.54 ± 0.97	3.44 ± 0.92
Coarseness c	4.25 ± 0.71	4.15 ± 1.41	4.33 ± 1.00	4.13 ± 0.83	2.92 ± 1.12	4.22 ± 1.09
Brown spots c	4.00 ± 0.93	3.38 ± 1.89	3.00 ± 0.50	3.25 ± 1.54	2.46 ± 1.66	2.89 ± 0.60
Skin satisfaction	35.84 ± 6.64	38.09 ± 8.30	39.90 ± 12.29	41.92 ± 8.41	44.65 ± 6.47	40.35 ± 5.30

^a All these had significant between‐group differences;

^b measured on a scale from 2.5 (least severe) to 5 (most severe);

^c measured on a scale from 0 (none) to 9 (severe).

Table 2.

Participants who reported an improvement in skin quality from Day 0 to Day 30

Outcome	500 mg, %	1000 mg, %	Placebo, %	χ2	P
Wrinkle severity	63	69	0	11.34	< 0.01
Coarseness	13	85	11	15.93	< 0.01
Brown spots	63	77	11	9.62	< 0.01

The results of this 30‐day placebo‐controlled pilot trial demonstrated that MitoHeal supplementation resulted in improvements in adult skin quality and patient satisfaction. Our preliminary findings add to the emerging research revealing that redcurrant/blackcurrant supplementation has cosmetic benefits, along with cardiovascular and metabolic health benefits as previously reported. ⁹ , ¹⁰ , ¹¹ However, owing to the small sample size and short duration of 1 month, further research is needed before firm conclusions can be made regarding the effectiveness of this polyphenol on skin health. More specifically, future research should incorporate larger trials to determine the long‐term statistical and clinical effects of MitoHeal supplementation on beauty and overall health, and to explore the mechanisms by which the supplement may improve both the physiological and psychological markers of beauty and health.

Learning points.

• Photographic assessments showed significant mean score improvements in wrinkle severity, coarseness and brown spots, in the MitoHeal groups compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05).

• A dose–response relationship was evidenced for wrinkle severity, with larger effects found for the MitoHeal 1000 mg group compared with the MitoHeal 500 mg group (P < 0.05).

• Participants in both MitoHeal groups reported significant improvements in their skin, with higher patient satisfaction at Day 30 compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This study was funded in part by Specnova, the manufacturer of MitoHeal. The funder had no involvement in the collection or analysis of the data, nor in the preparation of the paper.

Ethics statement

Ethics approval was obtained from the institutional review board. Participants provided informed consent before enrolment.

Data availability

Data are available on request from the corresponding author.