Oral Collagen Improves Dry Skin

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YOKOHAMA, Japan—A new study out of Japan reported orally administered collagen tripeptide (CTP)—a highly purified, non-antigenic, low-allergenic collagen fraction—improved dry skin and normalized axon-guidance factors in the epidermis in addition to reducing pruritus, which is caused by dry skin (J Dermatol Sci. 2012;66(2):136-43).

ICR mice were treated with acetone followed by oral administration of CTP (80 or 500mg/kg/d) for three days. Hyaluronic acid (HA) production induced by CTP was assessed using human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and in an acetone-induced dry skin model mice in vivo. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and scratching behavior were evaluated. Furthermore, the effects of CTP on intraepidermal nerve fibers and expression of semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR.

CTP enhanced HA production in human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and in murine skin in vivo. Oral administration of CTP in acetone-induced dry skin model mice significantly decreased TEWL and suppressed scratching behavior. Intraepidermal nerve growth was dramatically inhibited in CTP-treated mice. Quantitative PCR analysis and immunohistochemical study revealed that CTP abolished the increased NGF and decreased Sema3A levels induced by acetone treatment.

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