Photoaging occurs via several mechanisms: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce breakdown of collagen fibers and prevention of collagen synthesis, and the reduction in hyaluronic acid in the skin causes dryness. The study says: “As the only visible organ, physical changes to the skin have a notable physiological impact that can affect interpersonal relations and psychological wellbeing.” A press release on the topic from BioCell notes that photoaging is responsible for 90% of visible changes to the skin, including wrinkles, fine lines, loss of skin elasticity, and skin dehydration.
Researchers gave mice BioCell Collagen once daily for 14 weeks, and exposed the mice to UVB radiation three times per week. BioCell Collagen was found to reduce the UVB-induced formation of wrinkles while preserving skin elasticity and hyaluronic acid content. A low dose (the equivalent of 1g per day) performed nearly as well as the high dose (the equivalent of 3g per day), and the low dose outperformed the high dose in terms of hyaluronic acid content, although the researchers were unsure why. There were no reported side effects. The findings are consistent with other published studies on BioCell Collagen.
The study concludes: "These results were likely a synergistic effect of the natural occurring components of this novel hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage extract and they demonstrate that this extract is an efficacious functional ingredient for the improvement of skin health."
Related: BioCell Collagen Visibly Reduces Signs of Aging, Study Finds Study: BioCell Collagen Helps Reduce Effects of Skin Aging Nourished, Natural, Beautiful
Suhail Ishaq, President of BioCell Technology, said in the press release: “Photoaging affets nearly everyone, and is responsible for a vast majority of visible skin damage. While BioCell Collagen cannot replace your sunscreen, this study is further evidence that BioCell Collagen can serve as a safe, easy-to-take, non-invasive addition to a skin care regimen. Pairing daily oral supplementation of BioCell Collagen with a quality topical sunscreen to prevent damage can be the foundation of a good year-round skin care routine.”Two similar studies have been conducted in humans, but participants saw a number of unaffected parameters; researchers believe that this may have been due to unequal UV exposure between participants, the study noted. In humans, skin collagen content can only be measured indirectly. This study was performed on mice in order to address those limitations.
