In a January 2008 survey by Datamonitor, 64% of consumers strongly ranked nutrients as being beneficial for skin health. Consumers reaffirmed their interest in nutrition for healthy skin, as 78% said they wanted to learn more about nutrition for healthy skin, and 71% wanted to learn more about antioxidants. Among the top body concerns by women in both Europe and the U.S., body shape ranked highest among women, with 76% of women surveyed listing this as a top concern. Additionally, 68% are concerned with skin dryness; 59% are concerned with the appearance of wrinkles/fine lines; 58% with minimizing body odor/sweat; 55% with tooth discoloring; and 55% with cellulite. Other top concerns (among 40-49% of women) were sensitive skin/rashes, sensitive teeth, graying hair and covering/minimizing skin blemishes. 

DSM Nutritional Products has taken notice of this trend and has also been carefully watching the progress of science among the growing “beauty-from-within” concept. They found a strong and growing body of evidence to support the use of ingested nutrients to promote skin health. Additionally, the majority of these studies are on UV protection, usually containing one or more of the following ingredients: the carotenoids (b-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin), the fatty acids (DHA, EPA), and vitamins C and E. 

“Those ingredients that play a part in UV protection generally enrich the skin with nutrients that block or reduce the damaging effects of sunlight. UVB rays penetrate the top layer of skin and are responsible for sunburn; whereas, UVA rays go deeper into the skin and cause skin aging (protein breakdown and disrepair),” said Caroline Brons, senior marketing manager at DSM. “The aim of formulating beauty-from-within concept products that target UV protection is to work with a topical sunscreen routine--not to replace it. For example, regular supplementation with beta-carotene can provide a sort of ‘internal sunscreen’ effect, as it protects from damaging effects of the sun, equivalent to SPF 2.”

Beta-carotene is also metabolized to vitamin A in the skin and serves as an antioxidant that is able to quench free oxygen radicals; reduce basal stress in skin cells; protect against UV-induced suppression of immune function; inhibit matrix metalloprotease (MMP) induction by UVA light (anti-wrinkle action); prevent UVA-induced mitochondrial DNA deletions in the skin (maintenance of energy metabolism); and moderately alleviate UVB-induced erythema (sunburn).

DSM carries several proprietary ingredients that play a part in UV protection,  including antioxidant vitamins C and E, carotenoids (such as FloraGLO® Lutein, OPTISHARP® Zeaxanthin, redivivo® Lycopene, CaroCare™ beta-carotene), Polyphenols (BONISTEIN® Genistein, HIDROX® Olive Polyphenols, Teavigo® EGCG, Resvida™ Resveratrol) and ROPUFA Omega-3. With their careful attention to science, regulation and application experience, they are co-creating innovative formulations with clients interested in addressing the beauty-from-within consumer interest. NS
--Kerry Hughes, Technical Field Editor

For more information:
DSM Functional Foods Marketing • Parsippany, N.J.
Caroline Brons • 973-257-8042
caroline.brons@dsm.com • www.dsm.com