The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity

Figures & data

Figure 1 Overall protocol of the study.

Abbreviations: D0, before starting oil consumption and application; D30, after 30 days of oil consumption and application; D60, after 60 days of oil consumption and application; LF, left volar forearm; PMW, postmenopausal women; R2, gross-elasticity of the skin; R5, net elasticity of the skin; R7, biological elasticity; RF, right volar forearm; RRT, resonance running time.

Figure 2 Skin deformation curve obtained with Cutometer.

Abbreviations: Ua, the ability of redeformation of skin; Ue, immediate distension; Uf, final distension (skin distensibility); Ur, immediate retraction; Uv, delayed distension; s, seconds.

Table 1 Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the argan and olive groups

Item	Olive group (control)	Argan group
n	30	30
Age, years	55.13±6.45	55.84±5.91
Body weight, kg	70.02±12.27	69.94±11.85
Height, m	1.58±0.06	1.57±0.05
TC, g/L	2.10±0.33	2.13±0.35
LDL-C, g/L	1.30±0.31	1.34±0.31
HDL-C, g/L	0.58±0.12	0.58±0.15
TG, g/L	1.10±0.56	1.09±0.51

Notes: All values are presented as unadjusted mean ± standard deviation.

Abbreviations: LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglycerides.

Figure 3 Volar forearm R2 (gross-elasticity of the skin) evolution.

Notes: Evolution after oils consumption and/or argan oil application at (A) the RF in the group consuming argan oil, (B) the RF in the group consuming olive oil, (C) the LF in the group consuming argan oil, and (D) the LF in the group consuming olive oil. The difference between the three paired means (± SD) of R2 (taken at D0, D30, and D60) of the two volar forearms (RF and LF) of each group (argan and olive) was analyzed using the ANOVA test for repeated measures followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test (if the ANOVA test for repeated measures was statistically significant). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant (for the results of the ANOVA test for repeated measures). NS: ANOVA test for repeated measures showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). *P<0.05 was considered statistically significant (for the results of the Bonferroni post hoc test).

Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance; D0, before starting oil consumption and application; D30, after 30 days of oil consumption and application; D60, after 60 days of oil consumption and application; LF, left volar forearm; NS, no significant difference; RF, right volar forearm; SD, standard deviation; Ua/Uf, gross-elasticity of the skin, including viscous deformation.

Figure 4 Volar forearm R5 (net elasticity of the skin without viscous deformation) evolution.

Notes: Evolution after oils consumption and/or argan oil application at (A) the RF in the group consuming argan oil, (B) the RF in the group consuming olive oil, (C) the LF in the group consuming argan oil, and (D) the LF in the group consuming olive oil. The difference between the three paired means (± SD) of R5 (taken at D0, D30, and D60) of the two volar forearms (RF and LF) of each group (argan and olive) was analyzed using the ANOVA test for repeated measures followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test (if the ANOVA test for repeated measures was statistically significant). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant (for the results of the ANOVA test for repeated measures). NS: the ANOVA test for repeated measures showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). *P<0.05 was considered statistically significant (for the results of the Bonferroni post hoc test).

Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance; D0, before starting oil consumption and application; D30, after 30 days of oil consumption and application; D60, after 60 days of oil consumption and application; LF, left volar forearm; NS, no significant difference; RF, right volar forearm; SD, standard deviation; Ur/Ue, net elasticity of the skin without viscous deformation.

Figure 5 Volar forearm R7 (biological elasticity) evolution.

Notes: Evolution after oils consumption and/or argan oil application at (A) the RF in the group consuming argan oil, (B) the RF in the group consuming olive oil, (C) the LF in the group consuming argan oil, and (D) the LF in the group consuming olive oil. The difference between the three paired means (± SD) of R7 (taken at D0, D30, and D60) of the two volar forearms (RF and LF) of each group (argan and olive) was analyzed using the ANOVA test for repeated measures followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test (if the ANOVA test for repeated measures was statistically significant). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant (for the results of the ANOVA test for repeated measures). NS: the ANOVA test for repeated measures showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). *P<0.05 was considered statistically significant (for the results of the Bonferroni post hoc test).

Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance; D0, before starting oil consumption and application; D30, after 30 days of oil consumption and application; D60, after 60 days of oil consumption and application; LF, left volar forearm; NS, no significant difference; RF, right volar forearm; SD, standard deviation; Ur/Uf, biological elasticity, ie, the ratio of immediate retraction to final distension.

Figure 6 Volar forearm RRT evolution.

Notes: Evolution after oils consumption and/or argan oil application at (A) the RF in the group consuming argan oil, (B) the RF in the group consuming olive oil, (C) the LF in the group consuming argan oil, (D) the LF in the group consuming olive oil. The difference between the three paired means (± SD) of RRT (taken at D0, D30, and D60) of the two volar forearms (RF and LF) of each group (argan and olive) was analyzed using the ANOVA test for repeated measures followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test (if the ANOVA test for repeated measures was statistically significant). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant (for the results of the ANOVA test for repeated measures). NS: the ANOVA test for repeated measures showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). *P<0.05 was considered statistically significant (for the results of the Bonferroni post hoc test).
Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance; AU, arbitrary units; D0, before starting oil consumption and application; D30, after 30 days of oil consumption and application; D60, after 60 days of oil consumption and application; LF, left volar forearm; NS, no significant difference; RF, right volar forearm; RRT, resonance running time; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 The intergroup comparison of R-parameters (R2, R5, and R7) and resonance running time of the volar forearm between the two groups before (D0) and after 60 days (D60) of oils consumption and/or argan oil application

			Olive group N=30	Argan group N=30	P-value
R2 parameter or the ratio (Ua/Uf)	RF	D0	0.836±0.067	0.838±0.077	>0.05
		D60	0.855±0.072	0.886±0.029	0.036
	LF	D0	0.836±0.083	0.837±0.063	>0.05
		D60	0.893±0.049	0.895±0.048	>0.05
R5 parameter or the ratio (Ur/Ue)	RF	D0	0.793±0.12	0.798±0.12	>0.05
		D60	0.850±0.144	0.940±0.188	0.036
	LF	D0	0.797±0.16	0.801±0.103	>0.05
		D60	0.993±0.218	0.937±0.192	>0.05
R7 parameter or the ratio (Ur/Uf)	RF	D0	0.525±0.058	0.531±0.086	>0.05
		D60	0.551±0.074	0.594±0.059	0.012
	LF	D0	0.525±0.085	0.533±0.064	>0.05
		D60	0.607±0.075	0.595±0.079	>0.05
Resonance running time (AU)	RF	D0	102.1±15.26	103.70±17.24	>0.05
		D60	99.48±11.98	90.23±12.95	0.006
	LF	D0	101.59±15.78	104.76±16.73	>0.05
		D60	91.29±14.82	87.09±14.33	>0.05

Notes: All values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Mean group comparisons were conducted using Student’s t-test for independent samples. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Abbreviations: AU, arbitrary units; LF, left volar forearm; R2, Ua/Uf, gross-elasticity of the skin, including viscous deformation; R5, Ur/Ue, net elasticity of the skin without viscous deformation; R7, Ur/Uf, biological elasticity, ie, the ratio of immediate retraction to final distension; RF, right volar forearm.

Table 3 The intergroup comparison of R-parameters (R2, R5, and R7) and resonance running time between the two volar forearms (RF and LF) before (D0) and after 60 days (D60) of oils consumption and/or argan oil application in the two groups

			RF	LF	P-value
R2 parameter or the ratio (Ua/Uf)	Argan group	D0	0.838±0.077	0.837±0.063	>0.05
	N=30	D60	0.886±0.029	0.895±0.048	>0.05
	Olive group	D0	0.836±0.067	0.836±0.083	>0.05
	N=30	D60	0.855±0.072	0.893±0.049	0.023
R5 parameter or the ratio (Ur/Ue)	Argan group	D0	0.798±0.12	0.801±0.103	>0.05
	N=30	D60	0.940±0.188	0.937±0.192	>0.05
	Olive group	D0	0.793±0.12	0.797±0.16	>0.05
	N=30	D60	0.850±0.144	0.993±0.218	0.004
R7 parameter or the ratio (Ur/Uf)	Argan group	D0	0.531±0.086	0.533±0.064	>0.05
	N=30	D60	0.594±0.059	0.595±0.079	>0.05
	Olive group	D0	0.525±0.058	0.525±0.085	>0.05
	N=30	D60	0.551±0.074	0.607±0.075	0.005
Resonance running time (AU)	Argan group	D0	103.70±17.24	104.76±16.73	>0.05
	N=30	D60	90.23±12.95	87.09±14.33	>0.05
	Olive group	D0	102.1±15.26	101.59±15.78	>0.05
	N=30	D60	99.48±11.98	91.29±14.82	0.022

Notes: All values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Mean group comparisons were conducted using Student’s t-test for independent samples. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Abbreviations: AU, arbitrary units; LF, left volar forearm; R2, Ua/Uf, gross-elasticity of the skin, including viscous deformation; R5, Ur/Ue, net elasticity of the skin without viscous deformation; R7, Ur/Uf, biological elasticity, ie, the ratio of immediate retraction to final distension; RF, right volar forearm.