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The effect of ornithine ingestion on skin condition
Abstract
Objective : Ornithine is an amino acids not involved in protein, but present in human body. The effects of consecutive ornithine ingestion on skin condition were examined by subjective and objective measurements. Design & Methods : A placebo controlled, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study was carried out with 40 healthy Japanese women who complained of skin problems and felt fatigue. They were divided into ornithine or placebo groups (n =20) and took 400 mg of ornithine or placebo every day for 8 weeks. Assessments were carried out with 39 subjects excepting one in ornithine group who had dropped out the trial. Results : This study revealed that there was a moderate correlation between subjective feelings of fatigue and skin condition. Ornithine ingestion significantly improved several subjective feelings in skin, e.g. "skin problems" in the Anti-Aging QOL Common Questionnaire. In addition, the scores of ornithine group were better in almost all the questions about skin symptom by average than those of placebo. Moreover, in addition to the subjective feelings, significant improvements in objective parameters of skin condition, increase in skin elasticity and decrease in number of UV spots, were observed by ingestion of ornithine among the subjects who had felt fatigue strongly and scored more than 60 point in a Visual Analog Scale for fatigue. Conclusion : Ornithine ingestion may improve skin condition subjectively and objectively, particularly among the people who feel fatigue. The effects might be due to a combination of beneficial effects of ornithine, e.g. relieving fatigue, aiding liver function and enhancing collagen synthesis.
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Objective: To determine the effect of beet extract on skin elasticity in female volunteers with dry skin and in human dermal fibroblasts. Method: To assess the effects of oral administration of glucosyl ceramide contained in beet extract (beet ceramide), we conducted an 8-week double-blind comparison study with 35 females (mean age: 40.9±4.2 years) with mild subjective symptoms of dry skin and declining keratin moisture levels. The compound was administered as glucosyl ceramide at 0, 0.6, or 1.8 mg/day to 3 groups (n=11, 12, 12, respectively). Results: Scores improved significantly for the following subjective skin symptoms: "concerned about dull skin," "concerned about spots or freckles," "sticky, oily skin," "coarse and desiccated skin," "not elastic, not glossy," "concerned about rough skin," "bags under eyes." In addition, perspiration levels improved. The skin elasticity test (Cutometer) indicated that the elasticity index (R2 and R7) improved in a dose-dependent manner. However, we were unable to confirm the effects of ceramide on increasing skin moisture as reported in previous studies. In experiments involving human dermal fibroblasts, addition of beet ceramide promoted fibronectin synthesis and mRNA expression but had no effect on fibroblast proliferation or collagen synthesis. Conclusion: Results from clinical trials and experiments suggested that oral ingestion of beet ceramide may stimulate intracellular signals and exert favorable effects on the extracellular matrix, including the induction of fibronectin synthesis. In addition, we confirmed the safety of administering beet ceramide to humans.
Hyperammonemia and associated cerebral edema cause neurological abnormalities in liver disease patients. Although only 15% of ammonia production originates in the colon, management strategies for hepatic encephalopathy (HE) have focused on reducing ammonia generation from the bowel rather than on manipulating systemic mechanisms involved in ammonia metabolism. Administration of L-ornithine L-aspartate (LOLA) improves mental status and decreases serum and spinal fluid ammonia levels by stimulating both the urea cycle and glutamine (Gln) synthesis, which are key metabolic pathways in ammonia detoxification. LOLA was shown to be superior to a placebo for management of HE, and the results of several clinical trials suggest that its effectiveness could be higher with the more severe grades of this syndrome. Compared with the standard treatment, LOLA is effective not only in reducing hyperammonemia and the severity of this disease, but also in improving the patient's perceived quality of life. Therefore, LOLA is a promising alternative for the management of HE.
L-Ornithine plays an important role in ammonia metabolism via the urea cycle. This study aimed to examine the effect of L-ornithine hydrochloride ingestion on ammonia metabolism and performance after intermittent maximal anaerobic cycle ergometer exercise. Ten healthy young adults (age, 23.8 ± 3.9 year; height, 172.3 ± 5.5 cm; body mass, 67.7 ± 6.1 kg) with regular training experience ingested L-ornithine hydrochloride (0.1 g/kg, body mass) or placebo after 30 s of maximal cycling exercise. Five sets of the same maximal cycling exercise were conducted 60 min after ingestion, and maximal cycling exercise was conducted after a 15 min rest. The intensity of cycling exercise was based on each subject's body mass (0.74 N kg(-1)). Work volume (watt), peak rpm (rpm) before and after intermittent maximal ergometer exercise and the following serum parameters were measured before ingestion, immediately after exercise and 15 min after exercise: ornithine, ammonia, urea, lactic acid and glutamate. Peak rpm was significantly greater with L-ornithine hydrochloride ingestion than with placebo ingestion. Serum ornithine level was significantly greater with L-ornithine hydrochloride ingestion than with placebo ingestion immediately and 15 min after intermittent maximal cycle ergometer exercise. In conclusion, although maximal anaerobic performance may be improved by L-ornithine hydrochloride ingestion before intermittent maximal anaerobic cycle ergometer exercise, the above may not depend on increase of ammonia metabolism with L-ornithine hydrochloride.
During intense exercise there is an augmented production of ammonia and IMP in the exercised muscle that could be related to the establishment of peripheral fatigue. In order to prevent this accumulation, the urea cycle in the liver eliminates ammonia in the form of urea and the skeletal muscle buffers the increase of ammonia via transamination reactions. In the present study we evaluated the effect of arginine, citrulline and ornithine supplementation, intermediates of the urea cycle, on the performance of sedentary and swimming-trained rats submitted to a single bout of exhaustive exercise. We also measured the glycogen content of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles and of the liver, as well as the plasma concentrations of ammonia, urea, glutamine, glucose and lactate. The results indicate that arginine, citrulline and ornithine supplementation increased the flux of substrate through the reaction catalysed by glutamine synthetase, leading to increased glutamine production after an exhaustive bout of exercise, and of the mechanism involved in ammonia buffering.
The effectiveness of ammonia reducing amino acids on hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy is well known in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis. Data concerning long-term therapy on hepatic function and urea synthesis rate (UNSR) are still lacking. According to Vilstrup/Poulsen it is a good standard for functioning liver mass. Therefore, 25 patients with histologically proven liver cirrhosis and distinct portal hypertension were treated daily with 9 gr. ornithinasparte over 13 years (8–20 years). Shunt operations, esophageal varicosis sclerosis, or portal pressure reducing medication were not applied. Rigorous alcohol abstinence and 60 gr protein/day were prescribed. During the investigation, 3 laparoscopies and 4 liver biopsies were performed, on the average, on each individual. Significant improvements of clinical and biochemical results (Child-Pugh-Index; Composite Clinical and Laboratory Index) were obtained during the long-term therapy with ornithine-aspartate. Esophageal varicosis II–III was either reduced to 0-I or totally eliminated. Also significant was an increased urea synthesis rate and a decreased hyperammonemia.
A plausible explanation for the long-term therapy effectiveness with ornithine-aspartate is the possible recovery of the functioning mass without hepatic size increase. Also important is the rigorous alcohol abstinence. It leads to a significant reduction of portal hypertension in patients suffering from alcohol induced liver cirrhosis (Reynolds, own observations).
Additional favorable factors are intensive muscle training and absence of gastrointestinal bleeds.
Objective: Vascular function testing and microarray analysis were performed to evaluate the physical effects of cassis (Ribes nigrum L.) juice in women.Methods: In healthy women (Study I: n=21, age 53.6±3.6 years, BMI 24.2±3.9; Study II: n=40, age 47.4±8.8 years, BMI 22.4±3.9) assigned to one of four cassis groups (polysaccharide (PS) content: 0, 50, 125, and 250 mg) or a water control group (duration of intake: 2 to 8 weeks), the following parameters were assessed: for vascular function, blood pressure, thermographically measured body surface temperature, CAVI (cardio-ankle vascular index), ABI (ankle-brachial pressure index), accelerated plethysmography, and FMD (flow-mediated dilation) were determined. In the PS 250 mg (n=3) and water (n=4) groups, total RNA was extracted from blood collected before and 2 weeks after the study to perform gene expression analysis using Human Whole Genome 4 × 44K kit (Agilent).Results: Cassis juice (PS content: 125 to 250 mg) (n=16) increased body fat percentage (+2.5%, p=0.011), decreased systolic (121.3±15.8 mmHg at baseline, −4.8%, p=0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (76.9±11.2 mmHg at baseline, −5.9%, p=0.001), and increased FMD blood flow (p=0.004), upper limb temperature (+0.23±0.47oC, p=0.011), and lower limb temperature (+0.55±0.50oC, p‹0.001). The percentage increase in lower limb temperature was dependent on PS (p‹0.05) and polyphenol (p‹0.01) contents. In gene analysis, inhibition of expression of α-adrenoceptor ADRA1D and thromboxane A2 receptor TBXA2R was prominent. Pathway analysis revealed significant accumulation of less frequently expressed genes (CACNA1B, GJB3, etc.) in the “Ca regulation in the cardiac cell” pathway (p=0.006). No serious adverse events occurred during the study.Conclusion: Cassis juice induced limb peripheral vasodilatation, increase in blood flow, and decrease in blood pressure. The microarray analysis showed inhibited expression of genes of α-adrenoceptor, thromboxane A2 receptor and Ca channel, and an inhibited pathway of Ca influx into vascular smooth muscle. Couppled with the fact that vascular endothelium plays a role in vasodilatation associated with various mRNA expressions, it is suggested that cassis juice may improve the function of endothelial cells.
The effect of L-ornithine (ORN) and L-ornithine-L-aspartate (OA) therapy on "extracerebral" nitrogen metabolism, brain metabolism and neurotransmission has been investigated in portacaval shunted rats with hyperammonemia-induced encephalopathy.
One day before ammonium-acetate infusion, a portacaval shunt was performed in three experimental groups: 1-control rats, 2-ORN-treated rats and 3-OA-treated rats. Ammonium-acetate was given as an intravenous bolus injection (0.4 mmol.kg bw-1) followed by a constant infusion (1.9 mmol.kg bw-1.h-1) so that steady-state blood ammonia concentrations (500-800 microM) were obtained in the course of 5 h. After 1 h, ammonium-acetate infusion, either L-ornithine or L-ornithine-L-aspartate, was infused for the next 4 h (3.0 mmol.kg bw-1.h-1) in the treated groups. The following parameters were measured: clinical grade of encephalopathy, EEG activity (n = 10 - 20/group), amino acids in plasma (n = 10 - 20/group) and brain dialysate (n = 5 - 9/group), and brain metabolites obtained by in vivo cerebral 1H-MRS (n = 4 - 6/group).
ORN and OA treatment resulted in significantly lower blood (34% and 39%) and brain (42% and 22%) ammonia concentrations, significantly higher urea production (39% and 86%) and significantly smaller increases in brain glutamine and lactate concentrations than in controls. These changes were associated with a significantly smaller increase in clinical grade of encephalopathy in ORN- and OA-treated rats, and a significant improvement in EEG activity in ORN-treated rats. OA-treated rats showed a significant increase in aspartate and glutamate concentrations in brain dialysate.
The beneficial effects of both treatments on the manifestations of hyperammonemia-induced encephalopathy can be explained by a reduction in blood and brain ammonia concentrations. It is suggested that when OA is administered, the effect of ornithine is partly counteracted by aspartate, inducing high brain extracellular concentrations of the two excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate, and perhaps causing overstimulation of NMDA receptors.
Enterally administered ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) is an efficient complement of nutritional support in trauma situations, especially after burn injury. A typical feature observed in this intense catabolic state is insufficient production of glutamine (Gln) and arginine (Arg), two amino acids (AAs) involved in the immune response. As OKG in vivo metabolism generates these two AAs, we investigated, in burned rats, the action of OKG with regard to modulation of immunity. Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups. On day 0, 12 rats were burned with boiling water (20% body surface area). After a 24-h fast, they were enterally refed for 48 h using Osmolite, as a low-calorie low-nitrogen regimen, supplemented with either 5 g OKG x kg(-1) x d(-1) (n = 6) or an equivalent amount of nitrogen in the form of glycine (n = 6). Non-burned pair-fed controls treated with glycine (n = 6) and healthy rats fed ad libitum (n = 6) were also studied. Nitrogen balance was assessed from daily measurement of total nitrogen excretion. On day 3, thymus, Anterior tibialis muscle and proximal jejunum weights were recorded. Muscle and intestinal AA concentrations were also quantified. OKG counteracted (P<0.01) the thymic involution that occurs with burn injury, and increased the concentrations of Gln and Arg in both the muscle (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) and the jejunum (P<0.01 for Gln). When all groups were taken together, a positive correlation was found between thymus weight, and Gln and Arg muscle concentrations (r = 0.71, P<0.001 and r = 0.58, P<0.01, respectively). Furthermore, as expected, OKG improved nitrogen balance. As it is known that total number of thymocytes parallels thymic weight, and as Gln and Arg are essential nutrients for activated immune cells, our results suggest that Gln and Arg derived from OKG are responsible for the immunomodulating properties of this molecule in burn injury.
Non-invasive bioengineering methods are widely used in the assessment of irritant skin reactions.
To assess the ability of eight non-invasive measurement techniques to distinguish changes in skin conditions over time, these changes being induced by five different irritants.
The following techniques were compared in a multivariate analysis: laser-Doppler perfusion imaging (LDI), laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), visual scoring (VS), colorimetric measurements (Chromameter CR 200 a* and L* scales), Mexameter Hb scale (Mexa Hb) and capacitance (Corneometer CM 820). Irritants tested were sodium lauryl sulphate 2% (SLS), tape stripping (TS), tretinoin 0.05% (TRET), ultraviolet (UV) exposure to 30 W m(-2) UVB/95 W m(-2) UVA, and dithranol 0.5% (DIT). Measurements were performed at baseline and after 24, 48 and 72 h. The study was conducted on the upper back of 11 healthy volunteers of both sexes aged 27-51 years.
For DIT it was possible to discriminate over time with CR 200 a* and L*, VS, LDI, LDF and Mexa Hb. In SLS discrimination over time was seen with TEWL and LDF. Discrimination in TS was demonstrated for TEWL, VS, CR 200 a*, CM 820, LDF, LDI and Mexa Hb. In TRET discrimination ability was seen for LDI, LDF, Mexa Hb and VS. For UV it was possible to discriminate using VS, TEWL, LDF, LDI and Mexa Hb.
Different irritation patterns need different measurement modalities in order to give optimal discrimination over time.
As the demand for non-invasive procedures for skin tightening is increasing, combined optical and radiofrequency (RF) devices have recently emerged. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a device that combined broadband infrared (IR) light (700-2000 nm) and bipolar RF (electro-optical synergy [ELOS]) for non-ablative treatment of facial laxity. DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen Chinese volunteers of skin types III-V, with facial laxity and periorbital rhytides, received three treatments at 3-week intervals with combined IR (700-2000 nm, 10 W/cm(2)) and RF energies (70-120 J/cm(3)). Standardized photographs were taken by the Canfield Visia CR system at baseline and serially for 3 months after the last treatment. Two masked assessors evaluated the photographs to assess the improvement in skin laxity. Patient satisfaction scores were also obtained.
At 3 months after the last treatment, 89.5% of the subjects reported moderate to significant subjective improvement in skin laxity of cheek, jowl, periorbital area and upper neck, with a high overall satisfaction rating. Masked observers' assessments were less remarkable. Mild improvement in skin laxity was observed over mid and lower face. There was no serious complication.
The combination of broadband infrared light and bipolar radiofrequency produces mild improvement of facial laxity in Asians with no serious adverse sequelae. A high patients' satisfaction is achieved. However, further studies are necessary to demonstrate the long-term effects of the procedure and to optimize treatment parameters.