Research on Food Ingredients That Enhance Skin Function and Their Practical Application: JSNFS Award for Achievement in Technological Research (2021)

The skin has a variety of functions that are essential for maintaining life, such as preventing water loss and protection against microorganisms and physicochemical irritants. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly maintain skin function, and the most effective approach is to improve daily dietary habits and to continuously consume functional foods. We focused on three ingredients from various food materials―“SC-2 lactic acid bacteria”, “collagen hydrolysates”, and “sphingomyelin”―and conducted non-clinical studies to evaluate their efficacy, absorption kinetics, and mechanism of action. In addition, we developed a new food product containing these three ingredients. In a clinical study, it was found for the first time that ingestion of a test food containing the three ingredients helped protect the skin from ultraviolet stimulation, maintained skin moisture, and alleviated skin dryness, compared to ingestion of a placebo food. This technology will make it possible to enhance skin functions in humans via the diet, thus contributing to the maintenance and improvement of human health.