Trans-resveratrol reduces visible signs of skin ageing in healthy adult females over 40: an 8-week randomized placebo-controlled trial.
- 2025-12-19
- Frontiers in aging 6
- Amanda Rao
- David Briskey
- Georgia Roche
- Annie Tremblay
- Marcia Da Silva Pinto
- Thomas A Tompkins
- PubMed: 41488277
- DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2025.1727244
Study Design
- Type
- Clinical Trial
- Sample size
- n = 134
- Population
- Healthy females aged 40 years and older
- Methods
- Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical study; participants randomly assigned to one of four groups: placebo oral and topical, trans-resveratrol oral and placebo topical, placebo oral and trans-resveratrol topical, or trans-resveratrol oral and topical; instructed to take one capsule (75 mg trans-resveratrol) and apply 1 g of cream (1.5% trans-resveratrol) twice daily for 8 weeks
- Blinding
- Double-blind
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Funding
- Unclear
Introduction
This double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical study evaluated the effects of trans-resveratrol on skin health. To date, and to the best of our knowledge, no study has tested trans-resveratrol as the only active ingredient, orally or topically, for improving skin parameters in humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of trans-resveratrol on skin health and visible signs of ageing, when administered orally and/or applied topically to the face.Methods
Healthy females aged 40 years and older were randomly assigned to one of four groups: placebo oral and topical (P/P Group), trans-resveratrol oral and placebo topical (A/P Group), placebo oral and trans-resveratrol topical (P/A Group), and trans-resveratrol oral and topical (A/A Group). Participants were instructed to take one capsule (75 mg trans-resveratrol) and apply 1 g of cream (1.5% trans-resveratrol) twice daily for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included wrinkle assessment, skin age, temperature, pore size, forehead lines, glabellar lines, Crow's feet, nasolabial folds, pigmentation, sebum levels, moisture, and elasticity, along with a self-assessment questionnaire, serum trans-resveratrol concentrations, and safety.Results
Out of 134 participants enrolled, 122 completed the study. Results indicated significantly reduced wrinkle scores in the A/A Group compared to the P/P Group at week 8. All treatment groups showed increased sebum levels, with the active topical groups (P/A and A/A Groups) having significantly higher U-zone sebum at week 8 compared to placebo topical groups (P/P and A/P Groups). No significant differences were found in other skin parameters. Serum trans-resveratrol conjugate levels increased significantly in the A/P and A/A Groups at week 4 and 8. All trial products were shown to be safe with minimal and only mild adverse events recorded in every group.Conclusion
Oral and topical trans-resveratrol treatment can help improve skin health parameters. When taken orally and applied topically, trans-resveratrol was effective at wrinkle reduction, and when applied topically, it increased sebum levels.Clinical trial registration
identifier ACTRN12621000709842.Research Insights
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
the active topical groups (P/A and A/A Groups) having significantly higher U-zone sebum at week 8 compared to placebo topical groups.
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
No significant differences were found in other skin parameters.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and 1.5% topical cream twice daily
significantly reduced wrinkle scores in the A/A Group compared to the P/P Group at week 8.
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 75 mg orally twice daily and/or 1.5% topical cream twice daily
Adverse Events Reported
All trial products were shown to be safe with minimal and only mild adverse events recorded in every group.
- Finding
- Reported
- Grade
- mild