PEER-REVIEW | BODY CONTOURING |


vegetal extracts can protect capillaries, improve collagen and elastin synthesis, regulate platelet aggregation, and lower venous stagnation. The local oedematous situation should show an improvement of the peripheral circulation and the skin’s biomechanical proprieties18,19


.


Hamamelis virginiana extra The Hamamelis Virginiana (witch hazel) extract, used in a topical or systemic way, has an anti-inflammatory and protective action against the perivasal connective matrix degradation, which is the cause of the rising of capillary permeability and of chronic inflammation maintenance in phlebo-lymphatic stasis situations. Several studies20 have demonstrated that this extract can inhibit the action of some hormones like alpha-glucosidase, which are able to degrade the connective tissue.


by food intake. This inflammation is both the concause


and the main cause of all reactions related to lipodystrophy (cellulite). It may depend on a mean allergic reaction or from a hormonal imbalance in the adipokine production15,16,17


.


Dietary supplementation An important ‘cosmeceutic’ action led by dietary supplements helps the topical treatment of cellulite. It is important to remember, however, that ‘cellulite’ is a pathology, and thus the effects of both topical and systemic cosmeceutic treatments may only moderately relieve the typical appearance of cellulite: orange peel skin, lumps, pain in palpating, and colour of the complexion. Some examples include:


Bioflavonoids Among the important substances used in ‘anti-cellulite’ supplements, bioflavonoids substantially help with microcirculation. The vegetal extracts mostly used are derivatives of ginkgo, black bilberry, grape, centella asiatica, pineapple, and melilotus. Substances contained in these


Figure 3 Platelets release growth factors


(PLATELET DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR)


PDGF


Cell growth, new generation and repair of blood vessels, collagen production


FGF (FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR)


Tissue repair, cell growth, collagen production


PLATELETS


(EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR)


EGF


Promotion of epithelial cell growth, angiongenesis, promotion of wound healing


(KERATINOCYTE GROWTH FACTOR)


KGF


Growth and new generation of keratinocytes


44 ❚


(TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR BETA1)


TGF-B Growth of epithelial cells,


endothelial cells, promotion of wound healing


(VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR)


VEGF


Growth and new generation of vascular endothelial cells


Figure 2 Treatment results viewed using the videocapillaroscopy optical probe. (A) Lack of microcirculation in the ischaemic area pre-treatment. (B) Post-treatment, observable microcirculation.


Fatty acids Omega-3 fatty acids are normally present in seafood, in certain plants and also in a number of animal products such as chicken, turkey, and eggs. Alpha-linolenic acid is the omega-3 fatty acid most extensively found in the vegetable world. This fatty acid has to be transformed into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in order to exercise the biological effects that are essential for the correct function of certain organs and elements (like the brain, retina, and gonads) and that protect against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.


Glycine propionyl-L-carnitine Dietary supplementation with the naturally occurring nutrient L-carnitine has been extensively studied as an aid to improve fatty acid metabolism and aerobic exercise capacity, to provide antioxidant benefits, and to enhance blood flow to active tissues. While multiple forms of carnitine have been the focus of ongoing scientific study over several decades21


, and


several are currently available for retail sale, propionyl-L- carnitine (PLC) has been shown to provide optimal vasodilatory effect to blood vessels, and to support healthy heart and skeletal muscle function. Those affected by cellulite can benefit from use of GPLC to help improve their pathological condition.


Body building aerobic exercise Aerobic exercise is important for many reasons, one of which is because it allows the heart to release natriuretic peptides that have an important therapeutic action on the adipose tissue and other organs of the body. Natriuretic peptides (NP) are a family of structurally


similar endogenous peptide hormones that are mainly secreted by cardiomyocytes in response to a stress on the cardiac wall22


. The metabolic roles of atrial NP (ANP)


and B-type NP (BNP) were unsuspected until the discovery in 2000 that they exert potent lipolytic effects in human fat cells and increase plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels when infused intravenously22,23 The induction of lipolysis and lipid mobilisation must be included in the numerous physiological actions of


. January/February 2015 | prime-journal.com


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