Oat fractions: their rejuvenating effects on skin and hair.

Their rejuvenating effects on skin and hair

Aging of the skin involves intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors include genetics, immunological function, hormones and biological senescence. Included among extrinsic factors are diet, availability of health-care and environmental conditions, one of the most important being exposure to solar radiation (photodamage). It is possible that at least 90% of age-associated cosmetic problems of the skin are caused by photodamage.[6]

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) concluded that cutaneous changes produced by UV damage include surface roughness (fine lines/wrinkles, skin texture), coarse wrinkles (deeper, permanent lines and furrows), coarseness (leathery/stiffness), mottled pigmentation (melasma, freckles, age spots), laxity, scaling/xerosis, sallowness, telangiectasia (red, finely branching skin capillaries), actinic lentigines (age spots) and actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous lesions).[6,9]

Stringent efficacy studies, both clinical and in vitro, show that different oat fractions can have substantial benefits to the skin and hair in ameliorating the damage associated with UV radiation and aging. In particular, the fractions we studied were oat [Beta]-glucan, hydrolyzed oat protein and oat extract. Skin- and hair-care products formulated with these materials can reduce wrinkles and protect and repair damaged skin and hair.

Oat [Beta]-glucan on Skin and Hair

Purified [Beta]-glucan from oats is a linear, unbranched polysaccharide composed of 4O-linked [Beta]-D-glucopyranosyl units (70%) and 3-O-linked [Beta]-D-glycopyranosyl units (30%).[1,2,7,11] Oat [Beta]-glucan [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 1-1 OMITTED] is a water-soluble, non-chemically-derived, high-molecular-weight polysaccharide.

The many uses of oat [Beta]-glucan extend to food additives, wound management, dermal-care and personal-care products. Oat [Beta]-glucan is the primary component responsible for the reduction of cholesterol and risk of heart disease through regular consumption of oats. On January 21, 1997, The Food and Drug Administration took a major step forward in helping consumers choose healthy diets by its final approval of the first food-specific health claim: "Soluble fiber from oatmeal, as a part of a low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet may reduce the risk of heart disease."[3]

A [Beta]-glucan collagen matrix dressing available for the management of partial thickness bums, donor sites and shallow abrasion-type wounds is currently on the market. Several trials have shown that [Beta]-glucan is a biological response modifier. In keeping with the modern moist wound healing concept, this natural material can be a useful adjunct to the healing of difficult wounds.[5]

In relation to personal care, we will discuss at length the following efficacious attributes of oat [Beta]-glucan: it stimulates collagen synthesis, provides protection against UVA/UVB damage, acts as a natural moisture barrier and film-forming agent, promotes cell turnover, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves skin viscoelasticity, decreases hyperpigmentation due to photodamage, increases hair strength and helps reduce damaging effects of bleaching.

Alleviate extrinsic signs of aging: An eight-week photoaging clinical trial was sponsored to evaluate the ability of oat [Beta]-glucan to alleviate selected extrinsic signs of aging. Two products were used. …