A team of researchers led by Jin Ho Chung have announced the promising findings of a study of skin care formulas based on lipid molecules that seems to minimize the damage of the natural aging process and the aging appearance caused by damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.  These lipids work by altering the body’s natural production of collagen.

Lipids are greasy molecules that occur naturally within the body and are instrumental in many biological processes.  In Chung’s experiments on anti-aging formulations, the most promising lipids were shown to work by maintaining the body’s production of collagen and by reducing the amount of MMPs the body produces.  Collagen loss is associated with wrinkling and other signs of aging and skin damage.  MMPs are enzymes that destroy collagen.

In laboratory experiments, three of seven lipids tested proved the most promising in preventing and reducing the damage from UV radiation.  One of them, phosphatidylserine, or PS, proved to be the most effective so the research team tested the lipid on the skin of human volunteers.

The research team used PS in a 2% solution on volunteers who were both young and old.  The solution was applied to small areas of the participants’ buttocks.  The younger volunteers received a dose of UV radiation to mimic the effect of the sun on their skin.  In both groups, the young with UV-stimulated aging of their skin and the older with the natural aging process occurring, the effects of the PS treatment were similar.  The PS solution minimized collagen loss at the same time it prevented an excess of MMP production.

Although longer trials involving a larger study group are necessary to clearly define and document any actual therapeutic benefits derived from the topical use of an anti-aging product containing PS, the research team has shown that there may someday be a natural and simple way to alter some biological processes involved with aging.

The Journal of Lipid Research carries the full details of the Chung study.