Undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia and skin: what to do? Dietitian’s position

Undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia (UCTD) is a common hidden diagnosis at a cosmetologist and dermatologist appointment, which can affect the prognosis, choice of procedure and patient management tactics. Being a genetically determined disorder of connective tissue formation and manifested by polymorphic changes in the skin, joints, blood vessels and internal organs, UCTD has no clear diagnostic criteria, which complicates timely diagnostics. A particular problem is premature aging, which in patients with UCTD is ahead of biological age by an average of 8 years, and impaired full tissue reparation against the background of UCTD. These changes are due to impaired synthesis of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans. Since UCTD is a genetic pathology, it cannot be completely eliminated, but an integrated approach, including diet therapy and correction of micronutrient deficiencies, can slow down the progression of dysplastic changes and improve reparative processes after hardware-based and injectable cosmetology procedures. This review examines key nutrients that affect connective tissue metabolism, as well as current data on the effectiveness of diet therapy and dietary supplements for UCTD.