Effects of Oral Use of Phytosphingosine on Skin Moisturizing in Healthy Adults-A 12-week Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial

Background The effecis of ceramides on skin hydration have been well known, bul an improvements in quality is still required. We successfully developed a system that produces phytosphingosine from soy sauce lees, which is a main structure of ceramidc AP. Objectives The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of tablets containing 2 mg of the phytosphingosine compared with the placebo over 12 week period on skin-moisturizing, using trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) scores as the primary endpoint. Methods We conducted a clinical parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial study to assess the efficacy of the phytosphingosine on skin-moisturizing. 41 healthy adults were divided by age. gender and body mass index (BMI) at baseline, into the ceramidcs extract group, in which the subjects consumed the tablets containing 2 mg of the phytosphingosine, and the placebo group, in which the subjects consumed a placebo tablets. Results At week 12. the improvement of score from baseline (week 0) in TEWL scorc was observed only in the ceramides extract group {P=0.005). A significant interaction (group x week) in TEWL scorc was also observed (/>=0.012). Conclusions The study indicated that the oral use of tablets containing 2 mg phytosphingoÂsine improve the skin moisturizing in healthy adults.