Protective effect of oral selenium plus copper associated with vitamin complex on sunburn cell formation in human skin.

An organic form of selenium (plus copper) and a vitamin complex (with tocopherol and retinol) were examined for their ability to prevent sunburn cell formation in human skin exposed to ultraviolet radiation from a xenon solar simulator. After three weeks of supplementation with selenium, especially in association with vitamins, there was a relative protection (versus placebo) against ultraviolet-induced cell damage in the suberythemal range but not in the supraerythemal area. Antioxidant properties of the compounds can explain such cellular photoprotective effect. Supplementation was ineffective in preventing light-induced erythema.