Cellulite supplementation

CS, I was wondering if you could recommend some proanthocyanidins and phytoestrogens that would be beneficial for the reduction/prevention of cellulite. I'm including an article that explains the production and prevention of cellulite in women. At the end of the article the author offers some ideas of prevention and speaks favorably of proanthocyanidins and phytoestrogens. Which supplements would you recommend? Thanks. Sorry, just realized I couldn't include the entire article.



Suction, rolling and pressure devices - This is probably the most dangerous of all cellulite treatments as these mechanical devices can actually make the condition worse by inflicting damage on an already weakened support structure within the skin.3 Fortunately, many websites that report on cellulite treatment now mention this.

Topical herbal treatments - This concept is similar to wraps. For these herbal treatments to be effective, they must be formulated properly so that the active ingredients reach the fatty layer or at least penetrate down to the superficial layer. There is a certain technique involved here because, if not formed properly, the water soluble ingredients will not penetrate the skin and therefore will not work at all. Typical ingredients you find here are caffeine, theophylline and coleus forscholii.3 A newer study quoted yohimbe, aminophylline and isopreterol8 as they can actually stimulate lipolysis. This is mainly due to the action of epinephrine or adrenalin acting on adipocytes to release fat into the blood stream from within a cell.9

Circulation enhancers and lymphatic drainage - Cellulite severity is increased by interstitial fluid retention or congestion.3,10 Lymph flow is also slowed with cellulite. As the lymphatic vessels have no muscles to pump the fluid with, a build up occurs, aggravating the fatty mass, and thus the cellulite appearance.3,11 Capillary blood flow is also slowed, which accounts for most of the reduced lymph flow, as the former affects the latter. Any fluid here depends purely on tissue movement to work. Due to this, lymphatic drainage offers a positive effect for the interstitial congestion caused by cellulite. A word of caution: This treatment method does not treat cellulite, rather it treats the conditions such as sluggish circulation and increased capillary pressure.3

Xanthines and xanthine derivative - Xanthines are a group of compounds that naturally occur in the body, and while they are by-products of tissue breakdown, they have many functions in the body.3,8 One of Xanthines main roles is to inhibit an enzyme called phosphodiesterase (PDE). When Xanthines inhibit PDE activity, cyclic-AMP (cAMP) can work for a longer duration, thereby increasing lypolysis in that area.3 Xanthines are also best used away from meal times as insulin is so powerful at reducing lypolysis and shutting off fat breakdown and producing an anabolic effect; for any lypolytic to work, it is imperative that insulin be inactive.3 Clearly, best times for treatments will be early morning or very late, near bed time.

Collagenase-blocking agents - This is a much better treatment as it interferes with the vicious cycle of cellulite formation discussed in the first part of this article. By blocking collagenase, the adipocytes held in tight packs with collagen are maintained. This prevents the fat cells (adipocytes) from escaping and enlarging to their full size and stimulating more fat cell production. This is one of the underlying issues of cellulite: weakened connective tissue. With collagen constantly being broken down, the tissues here are so structurally “soft” or weak. This is quite serious, as any heavy or abrasive movement from mats, objects, hands or even people knocking into you can increase tissue damage and aggravate cellulite appearance. The best way to block the effect of collagenase (and elastase) is by the use of bioflavenoids, most notably proanthocyanidins.3 These compounds are very expensive, but when mixed correctly, about one to one and a half percent of proanthocyanidins is necessary to provide an effective blocking agent. Only then can you prevent further breakdown of collagen.3

Liposuction, Vitamin A and C - Liposuction is not to be used and can actually make cellulite worse by causing damage to already weak skin structures. For every adipocyte lost in liposuction, you can bet that the damaged weak skin structure that goes with it will only allow many times more adipocytes to be released afterwards. Vitamin A and retinoic acid have a small effect on cellulite, but they don’t cure it.3 Vitamin C is also helpful as is citric acid due to their ability to restore collagen, but they don’t stop the destruction of it.3

Phytoestrogens - By far the most exciting dietary research and information involves the use of phytoestrogens. Almost all of the research quoted here determines how effective phytoestrogens are at controlling estrogen levels. As we now know, estrogen is responsible for a complete cycle of events as it plays the most dominant role in cellulite development. I say this as estrogen stimulates fibroblasts to act on collagenase, which breaks down collagen, allowing fat cells to float up to the skin surface. As fat cells break free of collagen strands, they enlarge and stimulate new fat cells to be made. When new fat cells are made, more estrogen is produced so it can mature these new fat cells from preadipocytes to adipocytes3, and with more estrogen made, more fibroblasts are stimulated, and the whole process starts again. Thus, if you can control estrogen levels, then you can control cellulite production. To further support this hypothesis, it has been noted that Asian populations who consume the most phytoestrogens have the least amount of cellulite in their population.13 As a result of this and their high consumptions of phytoestrogens (50-300 milligrams), they have become the focus of many studies to determine the impact of phytoestrogens on health. Asians consuming 100 grams of soybeans a day were getting isoflavone protection in the form of daidzein and genistein. Compared to Western populations, scientists found that Asians had a lower rate of breast, uterine and endometrial cancer, a lower rate of prostatic and colon cancer and a lower rate of cardiovascular disease.12 When Asians switched to Western-style diets high in fat and protein and low in fibre and soy, their risk for hormonally related diseases increased.12

It is interesting to note that the chemical structure of estrogen and isoflavones, one of two types of phytoestrogens, are so similar that physiological actions occur when they are absorbed by the body.3 Phytoestrogens are more common than you realize. They are members of a class of bioflavonoids, a more familiar term in today’s vernacular. Under bioflavonoids, they are known under two distinct groups: isoflavones and lignans. Phytoestrogens are so important to our health and regular diet because of their similar chemical structure to estrogens, which have so many biological actions and biological functions in the body.3 To further support the benefit of consuming phytoestrogens, soy beans have been shown to be effective in reducing rapid cell growth14 and reducing acne15 in research studies. This research is mainly based on soy products that specifically contain two isoflavones, genistein and daidzein. In his book “Physiology of the Skin 2,” Peter Pugilese states that, “Cellulite should respond to isoflavones since they block the effect of estrogens on the connective tissue surrounding the fatty tissue. By blocking this action, isoflavones will reduce or prevent the tendency of the fatty tissue to be herniated into the dermis.”3

If you remember correctly, estrogen is by far the most damaging component of cellulite production for two reasons:

It starts the initial phase of cellulite production by activating the fibroblasts. If there was no estrogen or much less, then most fibroblasts would float by harmlessly, and the cascade of events they promote would be none existent.
Estrogen naturally acts on preadipocytes so that they mature into adipocytes. It is these preadipocytes that are created in the cellulite cycle when fat cells reach their full size, after the collagen fibres are broken. Estrogen acts again here on this latter stage of cellulite production and as more fat cells are created, so is more estrogen.
So based on these findings, reducing estrogen levels will by far have the most dramatic effect on reducing and potentially reversing cellulite production.

Cellulite production is a complex issue involving many different stages, and unless you really know and appreciate the cycle of events described to you in the beginning of this article, trying to intervene at the wrong stage of this vicious cycle, regardless of the treatment method, won’t have any effect at all.

References:

rogar6 - Most of the strong evidence seems to point towards proanthocyanidins effecting adipocyte and pre-adipocytes.
Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2000 Mar;24(3):319-24. Coleus forscholii has some good research behind it too, if you take enough per day will increase fat loss.

I believe the driving force of obesity and cellulite is primarily wheat/grain products, refined starches and sugars. Here is a topical product that is supposed to work for cellulite.

http://www.iherb.com/Life-Extension-Cellulite-Suppress-Formula-6-fl-oz-180-ml/9596?at=0