Study to determine the effect of 12 weeks daily consumption of Superba Boost as compared to placebo on changes in Trans-Epidermal Water-Loss (TEWL).

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial in 70 healthy adult male and female subjects between 20 and 50 years. The primary objective is to assess whether Superba Boost krill oil administered at a dose of 1 g per day for 12 weeks (84 days) has a positive effect on the TEWL, skin hydration and elasticity. At screening, the subjects must have TEWL values of >10 g/m2/h and <24.9 g/m2/h when measured by a TEWAmeter, i.e. within the range defined as normal and healthy skin. The change in omega-3 index, defined as EPA and DHA as percentage of total fatty acids in red blood cells, will be measured and correlated to the changes in the skin parameters.

The study consists of 4 visits: the screening visit (V1), baseline visit / week 0 / Start of treatment (V2), Interim / Week 6 (V3) and week 12 / end of treatment (V4) . In this study, subjects must have a low habitual consumption of fatty fish and seafood, defined as a frequency of twice per month or less will be recruited. Each subject must fulfill all inclusion criteria and will not be allowed to meet any of the exclusion criteria.

Inclusion Criteria:

To be eligible for inclusion, the subject must fulfil all of the following criteria:

• Be able to give written informed consent;
• Be aged between 20 and 50 years, inclusive;
• Trans-epidermal water loss score >10 and ≤ 24.9 g/m²/h;
• Be in general good health with no existing co-morbidities
• Have a low habitual consumption of fatty fish and seafood, defined as a frequency of twice per month or less;
• Be willing to avoid all fish and seafood meals in the 4-days before each scheduled clinic visit;
• Be willing to maintain dietary habits and physical activity levels throughout the trial period;
• Be able to communicate well with the Investigator, to understand and comply with the requirements of the study, and be judged suitable for the study in the opinion of the Investigator;
• Willing & able to consume the investigational product daily for the duration of the study.

Exclusion:

The presence of any of the following criteria will exclude the subject from participating in the study:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women; women planning to become pregnant during the study;
• Women of child-bearing potential who do not use an acceptable method of contraception;
• Suffer from photosensitivity;
• History of skin cancer;
• Are currently taking photosensitizing medication, or have done so in the previous 4 weeks;
• Sunbed tanning or sunbathing in preceding 3 months, or planned sunbed tanning or sunbathing during the study period
• Taking supplements known to have an effect on skin (e.g. fish oil, coenzyme Q-10, garlic, lycopene, beta-carotene, etc.), or have done so in the previous 4 weeks, except for medically-prescribed supplements or natural health products.
• Supplements known not to have an effect on the skin (e.g. probiotics) are allowed, once the subject has been on a stable dose for greater than 3 months and are willing to continue this supplement for the duration of the study;
• Systolic blood pressure ≥160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mmHg. Subjects receiving blood pressure medications, must be on stable dose for greater than 3 months;
• Known allergy to seafood;
• Are hypersensitive to any of the components of the test product;
• Disturbed absorption due to changes in the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., resections, diverticula, malabsorption, blind-loop syndrome);
• Known alcohol abuse (> 21 units of alcohol per week) or drug abuse within the previous year of screening;
• Clinically significant illness within 14 days prior to dosing;
• Current or recent (within 3 months of screening visit) changes in diet, which in the opinion of the Investigator, deviates from a normal diet (e.g. vegetarians may be acceptable, vegans are not acceptable);
• Planned major changes in life style (i.e. diet, dieting, exercise level, travelling) during the duration of the study;
• Has any health conditions that would prevent from fulfilling the study requirements, put the subject at risk or would confound the interpretation of the study results as judged by the investigator on the basis of medical history and routine laboratory test results;
• Are severely immunocompromised (HIV positive, transplant patient, on antirejection medications, on a steroid for >30 days, or chemotherapy or radiotherapy within the last year);
• Experiences alarm features such as weight loss, rectal bleeding, recent change in bowel habit (<3 months) or abdominal pain;
• Have a malignant disease or any concomitant end-stage organ disease;
• Individuals who, in the opinion of the investigator, are considered to be poor attendees or unlikely for any reason to be able to comply with the trial;
• Subjects receiving treatment involving experimental drugs. If the subject has been in a recent experimental trial, these must have been completed not less than 60 days prior to this study.

Randomization will be carried out by computer-generated block-randomization lists. Subjects will be randomized to one of the two treatment groups, in blocks of 6. The randomization will be seeded, with the seed only available to the statistician generating the randomization list.