Nutritional supplements and your skin
If a plant or nutritional extract can work topically, then wouldn’t an oral supplement work just as well? Because I am not a big believer in vitamin supplements, I’ve never put much thinking or research effort into whether, for example, sea buckthorn supplements have been proven to have a direct positive effect on the skin. Then the other day headlines blared that French maritime pine bark, taken as a supplement called Pycnogenol, had been clinically proven to have anti-aging benefits for the skin.
Because I am innately cynical and uncharitable, I immediately wondered if the makers of Pycnogenol were behind the study claiming that 20 postmenopausal women experienced “significantly improved hydration and elasticity of skin”. It was conducted at the Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, which sounded objective until I saw that one member of the team was from Horphag Research, the company that, yes you guessed it, makes Pycnogenol.
I was exactly happy to prove myself right though. I’d love to find out that popping a pill alongside all my potions and lotions would boost my skin’s appearance. So I set about seeing if there is an independent study somewhere. Pine bark has been linked to a mind-boggling and implausible amount of cures. It is supposed to treat everything from erectile dysfunction to sunburn. Its fabled potency is due to the presence of proanthocyanidins. But independent research on the effects of taking a supplement on the skin was not something I could find.
What of other supplements. I remembered mentioning once mentioning one on borage and flax on Truth In Aging. Researchers from Germany and France claimed that the omega-3 and omega-6 (fatty acids) in flax and borage oils prevent skin from roughening and scaling. After 12 weeks, there was a decrease in reddening of the skin in the flaxseed and borage oil groups of 45% and 35% respectively. But this is the only study on these supplements that I have found.
I decided to look at sea buckthorn and had quite a bit more luck. A 2009 study using extracts of leaves and fruits of sea buckthorn at a concentration of 500 μg/ml concluded that it reduced free radical production. And more specifically, a Finnish study on sea buckthorn supplements and dermatitis reported symptoms improved and a beneficial effect on the composition of essential fatty acids within the skin. There’s also one published in the Journal of Applied Cosmetology. According to the study, which examined the effects of both sea buckthorn oral supplements and topical oil application on skin aging, the plant works as a skin hydrator, an anti-wrinkle serum, and as a collagen promoter.
Next, I took a look at astaxanthin. Here again, I found only one study on astaxanthin supplements and skin. The study stated that it is “usually very difficult to observe any significant difference to skin condition resulting from the oral administration of dietary supplements”. I was intrigued – does it mean that typically supplements don’t have a visible effect on the skin and this is all a waste of time? No, it just means (in the researchers' view) that the astaxanthin results – “excellent cosmetic effects on human skin were observed from astaxanthin administration” were all the more remarkable.
Although there isn’t exactly a wealth of evidence and my examples are hardly exhaustive, I feel encouraged enough to continue to look for evidence that a daily pill is a worthwhile supplement to our potions and lotions. In the meantime, sea buckthorn could be the best bet.
Loading...
Marta,
I was taking astaxanthin supplements before I got pregnant (it's not something you should take while you're preggers). It's an amazing supplement with all sorts of positive benefits. As one small anecdotal piece of evidence, I absolutely did notice my skin improve while on it. It seemed more supple, hydrated and plump.
According to Dr. Mercola, when it comes to free radical scavenging, astaxanthin can be as much as…
* 65 times more powerful than vitamin C*
* 54 times stronger than beta-carotene*
* 14 times more potent than vitamin E*
I think Mercola has great, cutting edge info, but do note that he does sell astaxathin supplements. And one other thing, if you do decide to take the supplement make sure the astaxanthin formula is created from natural marine microalgae. You don't have to buy it from him.
Also, if you search Mercola's site you will find tons of interesting information on astaxathin, and he does seem to reference many independent studies.
xoxo
Kim
Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:44 am
There is a product put put by Lifestream in NZ & Australia called Astazan. Astazan- (Astaxanthin is part of the Vit A complex as is Zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, Canthaxanthin)
I work in a healthfood store & we get all sorts of samples to try- one being this.
It is the products that stood out- very few did. IT IS AN INTERNAL SUNSCREEN. In other words if you cant be bothered slapping on sunscreen in the middle of a job outside- you wont be burnt to smithereens. I guess this action would also include the skin actions you are seeking. being a strong anti-oxidant also- it staves off ageing. also IT IMPROVED MY EYESIGHT, AND A COLLEAGUES. I know this because I used to drive at night every week 100ks on wet windy roads for 2 yrs- and I could see better- you know the bit about carrots being good for your eyes? ditto ++. My colleague who is blind in 1 eye & poor eyesight the other eye- said she was driving home from work 1 night & exclaimed "I can see I can see!" IT INCREASES YOUR CORE ENERGY after about 6 weeks, your youthful energy, not sugar/caffeine type energy that is short lived.
It also has male & female hormone boosting effects- i definitely noticed libido, and the longtime promoter back then used to get razzed about having 6+kids....
No I didn't lose weight incase you are wondering, not that it promotes it...
So that is my experience
Cheers
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 6:30 pm
This really interests me and i'd be interested to hear if anyone else has anecdotal evidence of supplements that work. A couple of years ago I was taking Pygenocol and also hyluronic acis but stopped in an attempt to save money! I felt it did improve my skin but difficult to tell if this was the placebo effect! I guess there aren't many evidence based results for the effect of supplements on the skin because you'd have to take them over a long period of time and during this time it would be difficult to tell if other lifestyle habits and changes in skincare routine, etc had also impacted on skin health? Has anyone else had positive results with any supplements?
Posted on February 17, 2012 at 5:21 am
Thanks Susie, thats really interesting. I read a university paper that found that DHA (from fish oils) was more effective in protecting the skin from the sun than anti-oxidant vitamin supplements. I'm going to start taking krill supplements as these contain both DHA and axanthin (double whammy!!)
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:36 am
Hi Marta
I've been taking a supplement (biocorrex skincare capsules) for a couple of months now and I honestly have noticed my skin is a bit less gaunt, less wrinkley and just better really. I wouldn't go without it. But I went onto a site and someone there said it's rubbish because its got hyaluronic acid in it. Is that true that this is a nonsense product. I feel like I've definately got better skin with biocorrex but would you mind looking at the ingredients and telling me whether you think this is nonsense or not? I'd greatly value your opinion. http://www.biocorrex.com/our-ingredients
Thanks
Cara
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 5:11 am