Japan-based Glico Nutrition Company, one of a group of companies comprising Ezaki Glico Group, has released a new study on its refined glycogen product, Bioglycogen, that works to avoid the destructive effects of UVB.
UVB is considered to be the primary cause of skin reddening and sunburn, which damages skin cells, particularly on the skin’s outer epidermal layers.
The laboratories of Glico Nutrition Company have previously demonstrated the effective ability of glycogen to increase production of hyaluronan and ATP, which work to optimise cell health and vitality.
Reducing sun damage
Maximising sun care protection and supporting cell health is the main consideration for the skin care conscious Asia-Pacific (APAC) marketplace.
Following existing findings showing that exposure to UV radiation caused glycogen volume to drop precipitously - when the body attempts to replace it through natural processes - the body’s store of glycogen is known to lower with age.
Using discrete enzymes acting on plant sources, Bioglycogen resembles glycogen in its nanomolecular structure and acts like naturally-occurring glycogen in its bodily activities.
The body’s use of the naturally-occurring polysaccharide glycogen is key as a protector of basal skin cells. Bioglycogen is a recently synthesised glycogen that was developed by Japanese nutritional manufacturing leader Glico to strengthen the skin cells’ resistance to oxidation, reduce UVB-induced caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation and lower skin reddening, known as erythema.
We spoke to Yuki Yamagishi, Fine Chemicals Department, Glico Nutritional Products about the popularity of sun care products: "We believe that UV protection from the inside of the skin would to be the next trend because UV protection on the surface of the skin by such as ultraviolet absorber and ultraviolet scattering agent is not able to inhibit 100% damage to the skin."
"We consider that it is more important and needed to raise inner resistance with the skin itself for suppressing aging and maintaining healthy and beautiful skin additionally," added Yamagishi. "Moreover, at this time, moisturising effect is more likely to be recognised as a basic function for skin care, however, we are expecting that having both side effects for moisturising and UV protection on the inside is getting more focused and required as a fundamental function for skin care in the near future."
Cosmetic application opportunities
The study boosts the potential value of synthesised glycogen, along with the opportunity for a range of new, beneficial applications in cosmetic products.
The recent study reveals that Glico Nutrition Company’s new refined glycogen product, Bioglycogen, helps reduce oxidative stress on cells, counter the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mediate programmed cell death (apoptosis) to improve overall resistance to damage by UVB radiation in vitro.
Glico states that unlike other substances on the sun care market that scatter and absorb UV radiation, Bioglycogen is formulated to work in accordance with the functions of human epidermal cells, augmenting and increasing their inherent potential to resist the damaging effects of exposure to UVB.
As brands develop new formulations and invest in science to create cutting-edge anti-aging and sun care protection products, it is hoped that these product developments will further the efforts against cell degradation due to aging and the damaging acceleration of cell oxidation caused by exposure to sunlight.