1. Cosmetic Benefits of Astaxanthin on Human Subjects
Kumi Tominaga, Nobuko Hongo, Mariko Karato and Eiji Yamashita
Powerpoint by Stacy San Diego,MD

2. Introduction

3. Astaxanthin, a potent carotenoid antioxidant.
Derived from the microalgae, Haematococcus pluvial.
One of the oldest carotenoids isolated and identified from crustaceans
It has shown suppression of hyperpigmentation, improvement in moisture and elasticity; and inhibitions of melanin synthesis and photoaging.

4. Methods

5. Materials
Astaxanthin 3mg capsules mixed with canola oil
Placebo capsules for control (canola oil in soft capsules)
1ml of topical solution that contains 78.9 μM astaxanthin without any other active ingredients and base materials.

6. Subject and Study Design
Open-labelled. non-controlled clinical trial
30 healthy Japanese women aged 20 to 55 years old
one capsule twice daily (total of 6mg per day)
1 ml of topical application was applied to the face also twice daily
measurement of each item were performed at 3 points, at the beginning, after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks

7. Subject and Study Design
randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial
36 Japanese male aged 20 to 60yo
oral active form twice daily (18 subjects)
placebo form twice daily (18 subjects)
measurements of each test item were performed at the beginning and after 6 weeks

8. Measurements of Parameters
wrinkle - left crow’s feet, calculated by image analysis based on 6 parameters
deepest point mean depth maximum width of the deepest wrinkle
area ratio, mean depth and volume ratio of all wrinkles
elasticity - left crows feet
age spot - left cheek
skin texture - left cheek evaluated by corneocyte stripping and image analysis on 4 parameters
number, mean depth, volume ratio of texture and projection number of texture

9. Measurements of Parameters
moisture content - left crow’s feet and cheek
sebum oil - left cheek and nose
transepidermal water loss (TEWL) - left cheek
Wrinkle, elasticity, age spots, skin texture and moisture content were measured for Study 1.
wrinkle, elasticity, moisture content, sebum oil and TWEL were measured for Study 2.

10. Results

11. Study 1
improvement on visible wrinkles of the crow’s feet
significant improvements on 4 parameters
deepest point of the deepest wrinkle
mean depth of the deepest wrinkle
maximum width of the deepest wrinkle
mean depth of all wrinkles
No improvement on the moisture content of the corneocyte layer of the left crow’s feet

12. Visual Improvements of the left crow’s feet wrinkle as recorded by skin surface photographs and Facial Stage analysis

13. Significant improvements on deepest point, mean depth, maximum width of the deepest wrinkle and mean depth of all wrinkles

14. Study 1
elasticity improved at both week 4 and 8
visual age spot reductions were observed
visual rough skin improvements were observed.
significant improvement on the parameter, mean depth of texture
total area of the corneocyte at week-8 significantly improved from the start period
moisture content only improved in dry skin subjects

18. Study 2
Significant improvement in Area ratio and Volume ratio of all wrinkles
Moisture content also only improved in dry skin subjects
Elasticity, transepidermal water loss, and sebum oil all showed improvement.

22. Discussion

23. In study 1,
Significant improvements were observed in
skin wrinkle (deepest point, mean depth, maximum width of the deepest wrinkle and mean depth of all wrinkles).
elasticity
skin texture
moisture content of corneocyte layer (cheek in 10 dry skin subjects)
and corneocyte condition
Combination technique may be more beneficial to the skin

24. In study 2,
Significant improvements were observed in
skin wrinkle (area ratio and volume ratio of all wrinkles)
elasticity
TWEL
moisture in dry skin subjects
sebum oil
Combination technique may be more beneficial to the skin
Astaxanthin supplementation exhibited cosmetic benefits also in male subjects.

25. In study 2,
Significant improvements were observed in
skin wrinkle
elasticity
TWEL
moisture in dry skin subjects
sebum oil
Combination technique may be more beneficial to the skin
Astaxanthin supplementation exhibited cosmetic benefits also in male subjects.

26. The mechanism of action of wrinkle reduction by astaxanthin could be explained as a dermis condition improvement through collagen fiber recovery.
Astaxanthin promotes collagen fiber recovery by protecting the dermal layer from singlet oxygen damage which has been substantiated by an in vitro study using human dermal fibroblasts.
Elasticity was also improved as a result of collagen fiber recovery both studies
Significant inhibition of melanogenesis in age spots by suppressing the oxidative polymerization in melanocytes and inflammation in epidermis.
Topical treatment might be more deeply involved in the improvement of rough skin than oral supplementation

27. Astaxanthin treatment might normalize the corneocyte conditions protecting the keratinocyte differentiation and cornification from oxidative damages such as inflammation in epidermis
Supplementation may help to reduce rough skin and aging odor protecting the sebum oil from peroxidation
Significant TWEL improvements may haveresulted in normalizing the corneocyte condition.
Atopic skin patients who have high TEWL may be treated by astaxanthin supplementation
Astaxanthin was not only found to be beneficial for the skin but also for physical endurance, inflammatory skin diseases and neuroprotective effects.

28. Conclusion

29. In conclusion, these results may suggest that astaxanthin derived from H. pluvialis can improve skin condition in all layers such as corneocyte layer, epidermis, basal layer and dermis by combining both oral supplementation and topical treatment and oral supplementation of astaxanthin can improve the skin condition in not only women but also men.

30. References
K. Tomiga et al. Cosmetic benefits of Astaxanthin on humans subjects. Acta Biochimica Polonica