Study: Zinc for Anti-Aging

Comments
Print

KAWASAKI, Japan—In vitro findings from a study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, pointed to zinc salt of l-pyrrolidone carboxylate (zinc PCA) as a promising candidate for an anti-skin aging agent (2011;34(1):23-28). Zinc PCA has long been used as a cosmetic ingredient because of its astringent and anti-microbial properties.

In the present study, by employing cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts, researchers found zinc PCA suppressed UVA-induced activation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and reduced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production in these cells, which is thought to be involved in collagen degradation in photo-aged skin. Moreover, Zinc PCA treatment of the cells increased the expression of an ascorbic acid transporter mRNA, SVCT2, but not SVCT1, resulting in the enhanced production of type I collagen.

Comments