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Fat Molecule may Help Treat Aging If Incorporated in Solution

by Rajshri on Jun 6 2008 4:19 PM

A new study has shown that topical applications of a naturally occurring fat molecule have the potential to slow down skin aging, whether through natural causes or damage.

Young skin inevitably becomes coarse and wrinkled through both the normal aging process and external factors like UV damage, smooth.

The reason behind this wrinkling is that time and damage both lower the production of new collagen while increasing the levels of enzymes called MMPs that chew up existing collagen.

For the study, Jin Ho Chung and colleagues tested seven naturally occurring lipids - greasy molecules that play many important biological roles - in their ability to reduce skin aging.

In samples of skin cells, three of the lipids could prevent UV-radiation from both reducing collagen expression and increasing the levels of MMPs; they even increased collagen in undamaged skin cells.

Of these three, the molecule phosphatidylserine (PS) seemed the most promising, so the researchers tested it on human skin.

Jin Ho Chung and colleagues applied a 2 percent PS solution to small areas of the buttock in both young and old volunteers; the young skin was subsequently given a dose of UV-radiation to simulate sun damage.

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Researchers found that in both natural and UV-induced aging, PS treatment prevented collagen reduction and an increase in MMPs when compared to no treatment.

Although larger and longer trials are required to confirm any therapeutic benefits, these initial findings suggest topical PA application might be a simple and natural way to slow down the biological elements underlying wrinkling.

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The study is appearing in the June issue of JLR.

Source-ANI
RAS/L


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