Dietary fucoxanthin alleviates skin aging and modulates systemic aging markers in naturally aged C57BL/6J mice

Fucoxanthin, a well-known xanthophyll obtained from marine algae, has been documented to exhibit multiple physiological and health-promoting effects. In this study, we investigated the impact of dietary administration with fucoxanthin (0.01 and 0.1%) on skin aging in 80-week-old C57BL/6J mice and examined its effects on age-related alterations in other organs. The findings revealed that both concentrations of fucoxanthin attenuated the age-dependent elevation of trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and the wrinkle formation. These improvements were accompanied by a reduced expression of senescence-related genes Cdkn2a (p16) and Cdkn1a (p21), and inflammation-associated genes (Il1rn, Il18, Ccl11, and Ccl22). However, the expression of genes involved in epidermal barrier formation, ceramide biosynthesis, and collagen synthesis remained largely unchanged. Moreover, dietary 0.01% fucoxanthin diminished the hepatic, renal, and muscular expression of the aging marker Cdkn1a (p21). Taken together, these results highlight the potential of fucoxanthin as an anti-aging compound and underscore its value for future development as a functional food component.