Skin aging is a natural phenomenon, influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that progressively alter the skin’s functional and aesthetic properties. With age, visible signs such as wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dryness and pigmentation spots can appear. While topical skincare products have historically dominated the market for anti-aging solutions, dietary supplements are emerging as a promising alternative, thanks to their ability to act in depth on complex biological mechanisms.
Against this backdrop, BCF Life Sciences has conducted an innovative study on Kera-Diet®, a patented keratin hydrolysate. Thanks to a rigorous scientific methodology, this study explores its effectiveness in slowing and attenuating the visible signs of skin ageing. It also demonstrates its positive impact on the health and beauty of hair and nails, reinforcing its key role in overall well-being.
Food supplements to meet the challenges of skin ageing
The skin’s essential role in homeostasis
As the largest organ in the human body, the skin plays a fundamental role in maintaining internal balance, or homeostasis. On a daily basis, it faces a major challenge: preserving and restoring this balance.
Skin aging is marked by the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, dryness, loss of elasticity and firmness, changes in pigmentation, increased sensitivity to irritation and slower healing. This aging is the result of a global disturbance of this balance.
This alteration is influenced by two mechanisms: intrinsic aging, linked to genetic factors and time, and extrinsic aging, triggered by environmental aggressors such as sun exposure, pollution, smoking or an unbalanced diet. These factors lead to a deterioration in the skin’s biomechanical properties and a reduction in its natural ability to renew itself.
The limits of topical solutions
Historically, topical cosmetic treatments have been the main options for addressing the needs of aging skin. These cosmetics mainly act on the surface of the skin. Their inability to penetrate deeper limits their impact on the underlying mechanisms of aging. This limitation encourages consumers to seek complementary or alternative, more targeted solutions.
The relevance of dietary supplements
Nutricosmetics offer an innovative solution to the challenges of aging skin. By providing essential nutrients that act directly on internal biological processes to support skin health and appearance.
Amino acids, peptides and other active ingredients play a key role in cell regeneration, promoting collagen production and improving skin elasticity and hydration. What’s more, these compounds help combat the damage created by oxidative stress, the main factor responsible for the premature ageing of skin tissue.
Thanks to this targeted action, dietary supplements offer a comprehensive, preventive approach to preserving the skin’s beauty and vitality.
Why has BCF Life Sciences launched a Kera-Diet® clinical trial?
A scientific and responsible vision
Since 1986, BCF Life Sciences has been adding value to amino acids derived from keratin at its production site in the Morbihan region of France, adopting an approach based on the circular economy and proven performance. Thanks to its recognized expertise and mastery of production processes, the company develops ingredients whose efficacy is validated by rigorous scientific studies carried out in partnership with experts in the field.
This approach is based on a rigorous and responsible vision, combining innovation and quality, to meet the growing expectations of the nutrition and health markets. By establishing itself as a key player in this sector, BCF Life Sciences is pursuing its ambition to become a hyper-specialist recognized for the excellence of its ingredients and its commitment to proven, sustainable performance.
Find out more about the BCF Life Sciences approach
The patented Kera-Diet® ingredient
| 💡 Did you know?
Keratin is a fibrous protein that forms the structural basis of skin, hair and nails. Although naturally abundant in humans and animals, its bioavailability to humans is virtually nil, due to its molecular structure, which makes it difficult for mammalian enzymes to metabolize. However, it is possible to extract free amino acids and small peptides from keratin, which are highly digestible. These amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, play a key role in cell signalling, improved hydration, skin repair and protein metabolism, such as collagen synthesis. |
Kera-Diet®, an amino acid complex specifically designed to support the health and condition of skin, nails and hair, is the subject of two patents. This ingredient is obtained by hydrolysis of feather keratin and contains a high concentration of free amino acids (≥94%).
The Kera-Diet® clinical study was launched in line with this scientific, high-performance vision, reflecting our determination to respond to the growing challenges of skin ageing. Although keratin has promising potential, its use as an ingredient in dietary supplements to prevent the signs of skin ageing remains largely unexplored. This study therefore represents a key step towards a better understanding and valorization of the benefits of this ingredient.
Discover the results of this study, which illustrates BCF Life Sciences’ commitment to providing scientifically-proven, high-performance and innovative solutions.
The Kera-Diet® clinical trial: proven results
Study design
Conducted between July 2022 and May 2023, this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 99 Caucasian women aged 35 to 65. These participants showed visible signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles or loss of skin elasticity, as well as weakened hair and nails. Subjects were divided into three groups, receiving Kera-Diet® 500 mg, 1000 mg or placebo daily over a 90-day period.
Parameters assessed
Several indicators were measured to analyze the effects of Kera-Diet®. These included efficacy in reducing wrinkles, and increasing skin softness, hydration, elasticity and shine.
Additional observations focused on hair and nail shine and nail hardness. The study also included a satisfaction questionnaire for participants on the efficacy of the treatment.
Benefits for skin, nails and hair
Among the parameters evaluated, a significant reduction in skin roughness and a reduction in wrinkles were observed. In addition, water content and epidermal thickness also improved significantly, suggesting a positive remodeling of epidermal structure.
The study also demonstrated an improvement in skin elasticity and firmness.
These effects were accompanied by improvements in the overall appearance of hair and nails, such as nail shine or hardness. The participants’ self-assessments corroborated these results, reinforcing the positive perception of the effects of Kera-Diet®.
Kera-Diet® clinical study: proven results in improving skin elasticity
Kera-Diet® clinical study: proven results in improving skin firmness
Kera-Diet® clinical study: proven results in wrinkle depth reduction
These observations underline the potential of Kera-Diet® to attenuate the signs of skin ageing, while opening up new perspectives for better understanding the mechanisms of amino acids on the skin.
In conclusion, the Kera-Diet® clinical study demonstrated that oral supplementation with hydrolyzed keratin can be an effective solution for reducing the signs of skin aging and improving the appearance of hair and nails. These promising results pave the way for new applications to meet the growing expectations of consumers seeking natural, high-performance solutions. With Kera-Diet®, BCF Life Sciences illustrates its commitment to innovation, while offering a holistic approach to well-being.
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