Supplements

B. subtilis Rosell-179 probiotic supplementation enhances skin carotenoid status in healthy premenopausal women

A 10-week double-blind RCT in 37 premenopausal women found that daily supplementation with a mixed carotenoid supplement plus B. subtilis Rosell-179 probiotic led to a larger increase in skin carotenoid status (SCS) compared to carotenoid supplement plus placebo, with an estimated difference of 1.1 units at week 10 (p=0.056). Plasma carotenoids increased in both groups from baseline to week 5 but did not continue to increase, and no significant changes were observed in antioxidant capacity, inflammation, or skin health markers.

Last updated: Jul 29, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Probiotics for enhanced tissue carotenoid status: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

observational

Roldos LG, Iskandar MM, Oula ML, Piano A, Auger J, Tompkins TA, Khouri L, Binda S, Kubow S · The Journal of nutrition (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 10 weeks
Intervention: Daily mixed carotenoid supplement (17 mg total carotenoids) plus probiotic B. subtilis Rosell-179
Outcome: Skin carotenoid status (SCS) measured by spectrophotometer
Effect Size: 1.1 units difference in SCS increase at week 10 (p=0.056; 95% CI, 2.25 to -0.05)
Population: 37 healthy premenopausal women (average age 40)

Result:

PubMed: 42431406DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101716

Mechanism Graph

Probiotic B. subtilis Rosell-179 may enhance gut absorption of carotenoids
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Improved carotenoid bioavailability leads to increased skin deposition
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Higher skin carotenoid status reflects improved systemic carotenoid status
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Result: Greater SCS increase in probiotic group vs placebo

Limitations

  • ⚠Small sample size (n=37) limits statistical power and generalizability
  • ⚠p-value of 0.056 does not reach conventional significance threshold of 0.05
  • ⚠Only premenopausal women studied, limiting applicability to other populations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is skin carotenoid status and why is it important?▼

Skin carotenoid status (SCS) is a non-invasive measure of carotenoid levels in the skin, which serves as a reliable indicator of dietary carotenoid intake and reflects interindividual variability in carotenoid metabolism and absorption.

Did the probiotic significantly improve carotenoid status?▼

The probiotic group showed a larger increase in SCS than placebo by 1.1 units at week 10, but this result was not statistically significant (p=0.056), suggesting a potential trend that requires further study.

What other health markers were measured in this study?▼

Secondary outcomes included plasma carotenoids, markers of antioxidant capacity, inflammation, skin hydration, wrinkling, dietary intake, physical activity, quality of life, and sleep.

Who was eligible for this trial?▼

The study included 37 healthy premenopausal women with an average age of 40 years, who took a mixed carotenoid supplement daily along with either a probiotic or placebo for 10 weeks.

Products

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References

  1. 1.Roldos LG, Iskandar MM, Oula ML, Piano A, Auger J, Tompkins TA, Khouri L, Binda S, Kubow S. "Probiotics for enhanced tissue carotenoid status: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.." The Journal of nutrition, 2026. PMID: 42431406 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101716
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.