Oral fish cartilage polysaccharides in the treatment of photoageing: biophysical findings

Abstract

The topically applied cosmetic products can be helpful in improving the aged skin condition. The present study shows how oral fish-cartilage food supplementation can be helpful in improving the treatment of ageing skin. A total of 30 healthy women with signs of skin ageing were studied. Fifteen of the women were treated with a food supplement based on polysaccharides derived from the fish cartilage and a natural mix of antioxidants for 2 months and the other 15 with a placebo. Clinical evaluation and biophysical parameters related to skin function and wrinkle severity, such as silicone replica, skin thickness, mechanical properties, skin colour and capacitance, were measured. The results showed statistically significant changes in the active-treated group in comparison to the placebo. In particular, dermal thickness (treatment: from 1.13 to 1.23 mm; P < 0.001), skin wrinkling (treatment: from 9.5 to 3.5 R(a); P< 0.002), skin colour (treatment: brighter and less pigmented; P < 0.02) and viscoelasticity (treatment: from 0.70 to 0.97%; P < 0.02) showed considerable improvement. Most of these parameters are related to changes occurring within the dermal matrix, which is improved after the treatment, whereas most of the topically applied cosmetic products have a short-term effect on superficial structures. A combination treatment (oral and topical) can be more effective in reducing the signs of skin-ageing.

Clinical and instrumental evaluation of a food supplement in improving skin hydration

“…In fact these lipids play a key part in both the processes and they are able to firmly bind the water. Therefore, the SC would lose less water from the deep cutaneous compartments [10]; Antioxidants which improve the SC redox balance, in particular the lipidic peroxidation of the intercellular lipids [12, 13]; Essential fatty acids which act like anti‐inflammatory coadjutants and like epidermal barrier restructuring [14]; Fish cartilage polysaccharides which are effective in the treatment of photoaging The active principle in extracts of sea fish connective tissue is chondroitin sulphate, a mixture of acid mucopolysaccharides based on a repeating disaccharide unit esterified by sulphate groups [3]. …”

“…Essential fatty acids which act like anti‐inflammatory coadjutants and like epidermal barrier restructuring [14];…”

Nutrition and nutritional supplementation

“…Oral fish polysaccharides (3 x 250 mg per day, during 8 weeks) associated with an antioxidant mix have been shown to improve dermal thickness, skin wrinkling, color and viscoelasticity after 2 months of supplementation. 54 Silicon (20 mg per day) taken during 20 weeks enhanced skin microrelief and mechanical properties in women with photo-damaged skin. 55 A combination of lycopene (6 mg), vitamin C (60 mg) and soy isoflavones (50 mg) has been shown to maintain skin density, improve skin firmness, microrelief, hydration and tone in menopausal women.…”

An oral nutraceutical containing antioxidants, minerals and glycosaminoglycans improves skin roughness and fine wrinkles

“…Finally, whereas the exact mechanism of action of GAGs is unknown, previous authors have suggested a possible role for GAGs in the stimulation of collagen synthesis by procollagen and in type III collagen reactivation of repair processes in the dermis [59]. Some studies have reported an amelioration of hyperpigmentation in volunteers treated with nutraceuticals containing antioxidants and GAGs [11], whereas others have not [9]. In our study, no statistically significant change in this parameter was observed which may be because of the different mixes and dosages of antioxidants used in the nutraceutical product.…”