Researchers at Kookmin University in the Republic of Korea reported that hawthorn fruit consumption may have potential anti-aging effects on skin. They noted that their findings “may be informative for formulating personalized anti-aging functional foods in the future.”
The study included 36 adults who received either 900 mg of powdered hawthorn berry or a placebo for six months. The researchers studied leukocyte telomere length (TL), regarded as a marker of biological age, and its association with facial skin phenotypes.
They found that hydration was positively correlated with leucocyte TL and was more noticeable among specific genotypes.
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) has been widely used in traditional medicine for its herbal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cardiovascular disease, anticancer and digestive-enhancing functions. It is a rich source of bioactive ingredients, including polyphenols, flavonoids and triterpenoids, and is utilized in food applications and nutraceuticals.
However, there is currently a lack of research evaluating hawthorn fruit extract in skincare applications, particularly in relation to specific skin phenotypes.
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Telomere length in cells has been extensively studied as a biomarker for aging. As cells divide, telomeres shorten and eventually enter a state of senescence, where they stop dividing but remain biologically active. Over time, senescent cells accumulate, contributing to signs of skin aging such as wrinkles, texture changes, and pigmentation.
Genetic polymorphisms can affect telomere length and telomerase activity. The current study found that the skin-hydrating effects of hawthorn berry powder were more pronounced among carriers of specific genes.
However, the telomere length did not differ between the supplement and control group, which the researchers hypothesize may be due to insufficient sample size, intervention period and supplement doses.
“More data regarding the genotype-specific effects are warranted,” they wrote.
Study details
The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm parallel-group superiority trial involving 41 participants, 36 of whom completed initial and follow-up examinations over six months.
Male and female participants between the ages of 25 and 75 consumed 900 mg daily of a powdered hawthorn fruit supplement or placebo.
The researchers measured facial skin phenotypes, including pigmentation, pores, hydration, wrinkles and elasticity, before and after the intervention. They analyzed leukocyte telomere length (TL) using blood samples and collected oral epithelial samples for genotyping.
Findings revealed that the hawthorn fruit supplementation group showed improved hydration scores compared to the control, but changes in other phenotypes and leukocyte TL were similar between the groups.
“The genotype-specific analysis revealed that the improvement of hydration state was most noticeable among carriers with the CC genotype of rs7705526,” the researchers wrote. “[T]he HF supplementation group exhibited reduced wrinkle scores while the control group showed increased scores among carriers of the AA genotype of rs2853669.”
In addition, hydration scores were positively correlated with leukocyte TL for all participants.
Source: Nutrients 2025, 17(12), 1983. doi: 10.3390/nu17121983. “Effects of Hawthorn Fruit Supplementation on Facial Skin Phenotypes and Leukocyte Telomere Length Stratified by TERT Polymorphisms”. Authors: M. Kim et al.
