Aging Skin: Nourishing from the Inside Out, Effects of Good Versus Poor Nitrogen Intake on Skin Health and Healing

Skin is the outermost defense organ which protects us from the environment, constituting around 8 % of an adult’s body weight. Healthy skin contains one-eighth of the body’s total proteins. The balance of turnover and synthesis of skin proteins is primarily dependent on the availability of sufficient nitrogen-containing substrates, namely, amino acids, essential for protein metabolism in any other tissue and body organs. The turnover of skin proteins has been shown to be rapid, and the mobilization of amino acids at the expense of skin proteins is relevant in experimental models of protein malnutrition. As a result, alterations in nutritional status should be suspected, diagnosed, and eventually treated for any skin lesions. Protein malnutrition has a dramatic prevalence in patients aged >70 or more, independent of the reason for hospitalization. The quality of nutrition and content of essential amino acids are strictly connected to skin health and integrity of its protein components. Collagen fiber deposition is highly and rapidly influenced by alterations in the essential to nonessential amino acid ratios. The most relevant nutritional factor of skin health is the prevalence of essential amino acids

A Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies the Skin Color Genes IRF4 , MC1R , ASIP , and BNC2 Influencing Facial Pigmented Spots

Facial pigmented spots are a common skin aging feature, but genetic predisposition has yet to be thoroughly investigated. We conducted a genome-wide association study for pigmented spots in 2,844 Dutch Europeans from the Rotterdam Study (mean age: 66.9±8.0 years; 47% male). Using semi-automated image analysis of high-resolution digital facial photographs, facial pigmented spots were quantified as the percentage of affected skin area (mean women: 2.0% ±0.9, men: 0.9% ±0.6). We identified genome-wide significant association with pigmented spots at three genetic loci: IRF4 (rs12203592, P=1.8 × 10(-27)), MC1R (compound heterozygosity score, P=2.3 × 10(-24)), and RALY/ASIP (rs6059655, P=1.9 × 10(-9)). In addition, after adjustment for the other three top-associated loci the BNC2 locus demonstrated significant association (rs62543565, P=2.3 × 10(-8)). The association signals observed at all four loci were successfully replicated (

Epidemiological studies with environmental relevance in Germany

Unsere Umwelt beeinflusst Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden des Menschen, von der Geburt bis ins hohe Alter. In diesem Überblick werden die wichtigsten epidemiologischen Studien und Gesundheitsmonitoringsysteme in Deutschland erläutert, die unter anderem auch Umwelteinflüsse in verschiedenen Bevölkerungsgruppen untersuchen und Gesundheitseffekte abschätzen. Die darin jeweils untersuchten Umweltfaktoren werden beschrieben. Diese Studien an Kindern und Erwachsenen schaffen eine Basis für Vorhersagen und präventive Maßnahmen. Die hohe Anzahl der erfassten umweltbezogenen Faktoren und die Intensität ihrer Untersuchung unterscheiden sich in den Studien, ebenso wie die (phänotypische) Charakterisierung der Studienteilnehmenden. Dennoch bilden die gewonnenen Daten eine Grundlage für die zukünftige Forschungsarbeit. Hierzu ist allerdings eine flächendeckende dauerhafte Erfassung der Daten zu den verschiedenen Umweltfaktoren notwendig. Da der Anteil der in städtischen Gebieten lebenden Bevölkerung in Zukunft weiter steigen wird, werden Umweltfaktoren wie Luftverschmutzung, Lufttemperatur, Lärm, aber auch soziale Ungerechtigkeit zukünftig die Gesundheit und Lebensqualität der Bevölkerung maßgeblich beeinflussen. Die Herausforderung einer alternden Gesellschaft, aber auch die mögliche Adaptation der Bevölkerung an diverse Umweltstimuli machen einen multidisziplinären Ansatz erforderlich. Gerade aus umweltepidemiologischer Sicht sind hier die gesammelten Daten der in diesem Artikel aufgezeigten Kohortenstudien in Deutschland ein wertvoller Schatz, denn nur damit können Zusammenhänge zwischen Umwelteinflüssen und Gesundheit erforscht und public-health-relevante präventive Maßnahmen identifiziert werden. Die NAKO-Gesundheitsstudie, die in den kommenden Jahrzehnten die größte verfügbare Ressource für Gesundheitsdaten sein wird, sollte in zukünftige Aktivitäten zur Erforschung von Umwelteinflüssen eingebunden werden.Our environment is a major factor in determining health and well-being throughout life, from conception into old age. This overview illustrates the most important epidemiological studies and health monitoring systems in Germany, which investigate environmental influences in various population subgroups and estimate related health effects. Environmental factors examined in each study are described. The mentioned studies in children and adults build the basis for predictions and preventive measures. The number of the assessed environmental factors, the depth of the examinations as well as the (phenotypical) characterization of the study participants differ. Still, the obtained data build a base for important future research. However, for this, a permanent and Germany-wide assessment of environmental factors is necessary. The proportion of the European population living in urban areas is projected to increase in the future. Therefore, environmental factors such as air pollution, air temperature, and noise, but also social inequality, are likely to have a negative effect on health and quality of life of the population. The challenge of the aging population as well as potential adaptation processes to the diverse environmental stimuli requires multidisciplinary approaches. From an environmental epidemiology view, the collected data from the described studies are of immense value because only with this data can associations between environment and health be investigated and public health-relevant preventive measures be identified. The NAKO health study will be the largest resource of health data and should therefore be included in future activities related to the investigation of environmental health effects in Germany.Peer Reviewe