The moisturizing effect of a wheat extract food supplement on women’s skin: a randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial

Abstract

Ceramides, specific lipid components of the skin, represent 35-40% of the intercellular cement binding cells together and contributing to skin hydration. A wheat extract rich in ceramides and digalactosyl-diglycerides was developed by Hitex in two forms: wheat extract oil (WEO) and wheat extract powder (WEP). In vitro tests and two clinical studies demonstrated promising efficacy results with WEP on skin hydration. To confirm these early results, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was carried out on 51 women aged 20-63 years with dry to very dry skin who received either 350 mg of WEO or placebo for 3 months. Evaluation of skin hydration on legs, arms and face, assessed at baseline (D0) and at study end (D84) was performed by the dermatologist using dermatological scores (dryness, roughness, erythema), skin hydration measurement (corneometry) and self-assessment scores (Visual Analogue Scale: VAS). Perceived efficacy was noted by participants throughout the study; tolerability and overall acceptability of the study products were evaluated by the dermatologist and the participants at the end of study. Skin hydration was significantly increased between D0 and D84 on the arms (P < 0.001) and legs (P = 0.012) in the WEO group compared with placebo. Even if no significant statistical differences between groups were observed for the dermatological evaluation, skin dryness and redness tended to be reduced in the WEO group. Moreover, from D0 to D84, the VAS index had a tendency to increase in favour of WEO for the overall skin hydration (P = 0.084) indicating that participants perceived an improvement. The WEO capsules were perceived by participants as being more effective than placebo on all skin dryness signs. In conclusion, WEO capsules were well tolerated and appreciated. After 3 months' treatment, a significant increase in skin hydration and an improvement in associated clinical signs were observed in women with dry skin.

Potential Applications of Phyto-Derived Ceramides in Improving Epidermal Barrier Function

“…The latter is obtained after a second extraction of the oil with acetone (which removes the triglycerides). The beneficial effects of oral Lipowheat™ have been supported by clinical studies [109]. This CER-enriched wheat extract was first marketed in 1997 in Japan.…”

“…A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted on women with dry skin to investigate the moisturizing effect of dietary supplement containing wheat extract enriched with GlcCERs and digalactosyldiglycerides (DGDG) [109]. According to the finding, there was a significant increase in skin hydration with improved associated clinical signs (itching, squamae, roughness, and redness).…”

“…In addition to in vitro studies, the beneficial effects of oral intake of plant-derived CERs for skin hydration and skin barrier reinforcement have been established in several studies involving animal models [14,15,110,111] as well as human subjects [14,106,109,112]. These studies were mostly conducted on detergent- or tape-stripped-perturbed human skin and/or hairless mouse skin [14,113] or on skin with diet-induced AD-like symptoms in animal models [114,115].…”

“…Most of these products were creams and lotions which are claimed to have skin hydration and renewal effects. Later, in 1997, Japanese nutraceutical companies started to formulate and market oral phytoCER-based nutritional supplements and beauty drinks [109]. Currently, both phytoCER-based ingestible dietary supplements and CER-based topical skin-moisturizing products are widely distributed on the market in USA and other countries.…”

Improving Skin Hydration and Age-related Symptoms by Oral Administration of Wheat Glucosylceramides and Digalactosyl Diglycerides: A Human Clinical Study

“…In addition, there is a slowly growing body of evidence from animal and human clinical studies that oral supplementation with ceramides may be beneficial for skin permeability barrier homeostasis [13][14][15][16][17][18] and parameters such as hydration and/or barrier function, elasticity, and recovery after induced disruption of barrier dysfunction.…”