Clinical efficacy assessment in photodamaged skin of 0.5% and 1.0% idebenone
Summary Idebenone is an antioxidant lower molecular weight analogue of coenzyme Q10. Previously, idebenonewas shown to be a very effective antioxidant in its ability to protect against cell damage from oxidative stress in a variety of biochemical, cell biological, and in vivo methods, including its ability to suppress sunburn cell (SBC) formation in living skin. However, no clinical studies have been previously conducted to establish the efficacy of idebenone in a topical skincare formulation for the treatment of photodamaged skin. In this nonvehicle control study, 0.5% and 1.0% idebenone commercial formulations were evaluated in a clinical trial for topical safety and efficacy in photodamaged skin. Forty-one female subjects, aged 30 -65, with moderate photodamaged skin were randomized to use a blind labelled (either 0.5% or 1.0% idebenone in otherwise identical lotion bases) skincare preparation twice daily for six weeks. Blinded expert graderassessments for skin roughness/dryness, fine lines/wrinkles, and global improvement in photodamage were performed at baseline, three weeks and six weeks. Electrical conductance readings for skin surface hydration and 35 mm digitalphotography were made at baseline after six weeks. Punch biopsies were taken from randomly selected subjects, baselineand after six weeks, and stained for certain antibodies (interleukin IL-6, interleukin IL-1b, matrixmetalloproteinase MMP-1, collagen I) using immunofluorescence microscopy. After six weeks’ use of the 1.0% idebenone formula, a 26%reduction in skin roughness/dryness was observed, a 37% increase in skin hydration, a 29% reduction in fine lines/wrinkles, and a 33% improvement in overall global assessment of photodamaged skin. For the 0.5% idebenone formulation, a 23%reduction in skin roughness/dryness was observed, a 37% increase in skin hydration, a 27% reduction in fine lines/wrinkles, and a 30% improvement in overall global assessment of photodamaged skin. The immunofluorescence staining revealed a decrease in IL-1b, IL-6, and MMP-1 and an increase in collagen I for both concentrations.
Keywords: antioxidant, idebenone, photodamage
Introduction
Antioxidants have become popular anti-aging ingredients in topical skincare products. Antioxidants have been shown to be photoprotective, anti-inflammatory, able to reduce UVR-induced immunosuppression, and protective against free radical-mediated cellular damage.1 Typically these ingredients have been referred to as agents that are protective in nature (i.e., excellent for treating the causeof aging) but offer little benefit from an efficacy standpointin their ability to reverse the signs of skin aging (i.e.,treating the effects of skin aging). Although there has beensignificant research relating to antioxidant protectivebenefits, there has been very little published clinicalresearch that would demonstrate efficacy in the treatment of aging skin or photodamaged skin. Some data have beenintroduced for vitamin C and coenzyme Q10 in this regard,but generally, clinical data to support antioxidant efficacy in the treatment of photodamaged skin are lacking.2-5
In this clinical research, we assessed the safety and efficacy of topical skincare preparations containing 1.0% and 0.5%idebenone, a novel new antioxidant for skin-care, in the treatment of photodamaged skin. Previously idebenone wascompared against commonly known popular antioxidants inskincare products (vitamin C, vitamin E, alpha lipoic acid,kinetin, and coenzyme Q10) and shown to be very effectivein its ability to protect against damage as a result ofoxidative stress in a variety of biochemical, cell biological, and in vivo methods. In this research, idebenone was shownto be the most effective antioxidant in overall globalassessment to prevent oxidative stress and received thehighest environmental protection factor (EPF rating) forprotection from oxidative stress of the antioxidants tested.
Summary Idebenone is an antioxidant lower molecular weight analogue of coenzyme Q10. Previously, idebenonewas shown to be a very effective antioxidant in its ability to protect against cell damage from oxidative stress in a variety of biochemical, cell biological, and in vivo methods, including its ability to suppress sunburn cell (SBC) formation in living skin. However, no clinical studies have been previously conducted to establish the efficacy of idebenone in a topical skincare formulation for the treatment of photodamaged skin. In this nonvehicle control study, 0.5% and 1.0% idebenone commercial formulations were evaluated in a clinical trial for topical safety and efficacy in photodamaged skin. Forty-one female subjects, aged 30 -65, with moderate photodamaged skin were randomized to use a blind labelled (either 0.5% or 1.0% idebenone in otherwise identical lotion bases) skincare preparation twice daily for six weeks. Blinded expert graderassessments for skin roughness/dryness, fine lines/wrinkles, and global improvement in photodamage were performed at baseline, three weeks and six weeks. Electrical conductance readings for skin surface hydration and 35 mm digitalphotography were made at baseline after six weeks. Punch biopsies were taken from randomly selected subjects, baselineand after six weeks, and stained for certain antibodies (interleukin IL-6, interleukin IL-1b, matrixmetalloproteinase MMP-1, collagen I) using immunofluorescence microscopy. After six weeks’ use of the 1.0% idebenone formula, a 26%reduction in skin roughness/dryness was observed, a 37% increase in skin hydration, a 29% reduction in fine lines/wrinkles, and a 33% improvement in overall global assessment of photodamaged skin. For the 0.5% idebenone formulation, a 23%reduction in skin roughness/dryness was observed, a 37% increase in skin hydration, a 27% reduction in fine lines/wrinkles, and a 30% improvement in overall global assessment of photodamaged skin. The immunofluorescence staining revealed a decrease in IL-1b, IL-6, and MMP-1 and an increase in collagen I for both concentrations.
Keywords: antioxidant, idebenone, photodamage
Introduction
Antioxidants have become popular anti-aging ingredients in topical skincare products. Antioxidants have been shown to be photoprotective, anti-inflammatory, able to reduce UVR-induced immunosuppression, and protective against free radical-mediated cellular damage.1 Typically these ingredients have been referred to as agents that are protective in nature (i.e., excellent for treating the causeof aging) but offer little benefit from an efficacy standpointin their ability to reverse the signs of skin aging (i.e.,treating the effects of skin aging). Although there has beensignificant research relating to antioxidant protectivebenefits, there has been very little published clinicalresearch that would demonstrate efficacy in the treatment of aging skin or photodamaged skin. Some data have beenintroduced for vitamin C and coenzyme Q10 in this regard,but generally, clinical data to support antioxidant efficacy in the treatment of photodamaged skin are lacking.2-5
In this clinical research, we assessed the safety and efficacy of topical skincare preparations containing 1.0% and 0.5%idebenone, a novel new antioxidant for skin-care, in the treatment of photodamaged skin. Previously idebenone wascompared against commonly known popular antioxidants inskincare products (vitamin C, vitamin E, alpha lipoic acid,kinetin, and coenzyme Q10) and shown to be very effectivein its ability to protect against damage as a result ofoxidative stress in a variety of biochemical, cell biological, and in vivo methods. In this research, idebenone was shownto be the most effective antioxidant in overall globalassessment to prevent oxidative stress and received thehighest environmental protection factor (EPF rating) forprotection from oxidative stress of the antioxidants tested.
The chemical structure of idebenone is very similar tocoenzyme Q10 (see Fig. 1). Idebenone is a lower molecularweight (approximately 60% smaller) analogue to coenzymeQ10. In theory this should aid in the penetration of thismolecule, compared to that of Coenzyme Q10 in topicalapplications. Coenzyme Q10 is a very important electrontransfer agent of the respiratory chain in the mitochondria ofour cells, the source of metabolic energy production.However, unlike Coenzyme Q10, idebenone protectsagainst radical formation and cell damage under hypoxic(low oxygen) cellular stress situations. Under these sameconditions, Coenzyme Q10 is known to auto-oxidize, becoming a very potent pro-oxidant, leading to the production of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, and hydroxy radicals in massive numbers.
In addition, it has a structure similar to hydroquinone (see Fig. 2), occurring in all various chemical forms (quinone, semiquinone, and hydroquinone) depending on the cellular oxidation- reduction (redox) situation. Therefore, one might expect it to have a similar inhibiting action to increased melanin production (hyperpigmentation) by the melanocytes. Thus, idebenone, both a powerful antioxidant lower molecular weight analogue to coenzyme Q10 and a mimic molecule of hydroquinone, might be expected to deliver clinically visible results in the treatment of photodamaged skin.
This study was designed to elicit clinical safety and efficacy for a topical preparation containing idebenone at two different dose concentrations (0.5% and 1.0% w/w) and investigate for possible mechanisms of action. The concentrations chosen were selected based on results obtained from previous studies conducted via biochemical, cell biological, and in vivo methods. In particular, a sunburn cell (SBC) dose-response study revealed that idebenone demonstrated significant efficacy at 0.5% (38% reduction in SBCs) and was even more effective at a 1.0% concentration (44% reduction in SBCs). In general, it is known, that there are several major matrix degradation pathways that lead to premature aging of the skin (see Fig. 3).8 Both the cJun/cFos genes (AP1 transcription factor) pathways that affect MMP/collagen synthesis and the nuclear factor kappa beta transcription factor (NF?B)/interleukin pathways which affect inflammatory response have as a common denominator their initiation by free radical-mediated oxidative stress. Inhibition of either pathway may improve the overall appearance of photoaged skin. Specifically, in randomly selected subjects participating in the clinical trial, skin biopsies were taken and assessed for the presence of certain biomarkers that are key components of both degradation pathways (IL-6, IL-1b, MMP-1, and collagen I) utilizing immunofluorescence staining techniques.9 A decrease in MMP activity may result in a net increase in collagen and a decrease ininflammation, particularly IL-6 may also reduce MMP and thus produce changes in the dermal matrix that may providethe mechanism of action for the clinical results seen in thestudy.
Figure 3 Pathways of aging skin.
Table 1 Inclusion/exclusion criteria for study.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects with moderate photoaging must be diagnosed by the investigator.
Subjects must be female and preferably above 30 years of age with no known medical conditions that, in the investigator’s opinion, may interfere with study participation.
Subjects must discontinue all current photoaging products.
Subjects must provide written informed consent and photography consent.
Exclusion Criteria: 1. Any dermatological disorder or personal appearance issue which, in the investigator’s opinion, may interfere with theaccurate evaluation of the subject’s face.
Subjects who have demonstrated a previous hypersensitivity reaction to any ingredients in the study products.
Concurrent therapy with any medication either topical or oral that might interfere with the study.
Subjects who have undergone any surgical treatment to the tissues of the face.
Subjects who are not willing to discontinue all anti-aging prescription or OTC cosmeceutical preparations to the face.
Subjects who have participated in another clinical trial or have taken an experimental drug within the past 30 days.
Subjects who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning a pregnancy.
Subjects who are unwilling or unable to comply with the requirements of the protocol.
Methods, materials, and study design
Fifty female subjects with moderate photoaging (dyschromic facial skin with fine lines and wrinkles) between the ages of 30 and 65 were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into two equal groups of 25 subjects each. Subjects were given a commercial water-oil-water (w/o/w) emulsion lotion containing either 1.0% or 0.5% idebenone w/w in blinded containers. Of the 25 subjects receiving the 1.0% formulation, 21 completed the study; of the 25 subjects receiving the 0.5% formulation, 20 completed the study. All study dropouts were for personal reasons and none were related to the efficacy, safety, or adverse events from the products. A lotion base, as opposed to a gel or cream was chosen because this is, by overwhelming preference, the most popular base for the general consumer population. The subjects were instructed to apply the product to the entire facial area twice daily (b.i.d.) morning and evening for a period of six weeks. Twice daily application was chosen to maximize efficacy benefit and at the same time to evaluate maximum use to reveal any potential skin sensitivity problems or adverse reactions (in order to better assess the safety of the idebenone formulations at each concentration). A study duration time of six weeks was chosen because marketing research has shown that consumers are not likely to continue use of an anti-aging cosmetic product if they cannot see visible results within a relatively short period of time. Six weeks was also chosen to enable comparison to other short-term studies typical for similar cosmetic anti-aging products. All subjects received active product (either the 0.5% or 1.0% formulation) and no placebo was employed in the study. This study design was chosen to maximize dose comparison safety and efficacy, minimize overall cost, and eliminate crossover mix-up or contamination that could potentially occur in a split face active/placebo or vehicle control design as well as to provide specific information concerning safety and efficacy for a finished product formulation intended for market release. [Note: These study results highlight the safety and efficacy of a final product formulation rather than the specific ingredient idebenone. It should be noted that no other known anti-aging ingredients were employed in the tested formulation, and therefore, any increase in efficacy over the results one would expect from an ordinary water-oil-water emulsion should reasonably be attributed to the incorporation of idebenone.] Specific subject inclusion and exclusion criteria are given in Table 1. Subjects were allowed to continue their normal facial cleansing routine and makeup products and instructed to apply the test product to clean, dry facial skin. Subjects were also given an SPF 15 sunscreen to apply after application of the test products. No other
products were used in the study. This design bestexemplifies the way the product would be used in themarketplace. Subject selection was based on the willingnessto participate in the study, with informed consent, be free ofa history of cosmetic ingredient/ product sensitivity, not bepregnant or nursing, and be free of any medication thatcould potentially impact the study results (i.e., retinoids,anti-inflammatories, etc.). Clinical evaluations wereperformed at baseline, three weeks, and six weeks, including(1) high-resolution, standardized digital photography (Fuji S1, Japan) and
I. Quantitative measurements were not determined (see Fig. 6a,b,c,d) T