Vitamin C Breakthrough: Skin Regeneration Unveiled
Japanese scientists discovered that vitamin C can trigger skin cell regeneration. This finding may revolutionize skincare, potentially slowing the aging process and bolstering skin health in individuals as they grow older.
The Science of Skin Renewal
A team of researchers from Japan has uncovered how vitamin C can revitalize skin cells. Their research indicates that this vitamin plays an active role throughout our lives in countering the effects of aging.
Using a 3D human skin model, the team demonstrated that vitamin C enhances the thickness of the skin’s outer layer. It activates genes associated with cell growth through DNA demethylation. This discovery suggests that vitamin C might counteract age-related thinning and bolster skin health in older adults.
The epidermis, which is the outermost skin layer, thins as we age, becoming less protective. The study emphasized vitamin C’s benefits, a compound known for its antioxidant properties and role in skin health. The research, spearheaded by Dr. Akihito Ishigami, Vice President of the Division of Biology and Medical Sciences at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, found that vitamin C thickens the skin by directly activating genes that govern skin cell growth and development.
“C seems to influence the structure and function of epidermis, especially by controlling the growth of epidermal cells. In this study, we investigated whether it promotes cell proliferation and differentiation via epigenetic changes,”
—Dr. Akihito Ishigami, Vice President of the Division of Biology and Medical Sciences
How It Works
To investigate the impact of vitamin C on skin regeneration, the researchers used human epidermal equivalents, which mimic real human skin. These models were exposed to air on the surface and supplied with nutrients from below. The liquid medium contained vitamin C concentrations like those transported from the bloodstream into the epidermis.
The researchers observed that vitamin C influenced a thicker epidermal cell layer after seven days. By day 14, the inner layer was even thicker, while the outer layer became thinner, indicating that vitamin C promotes keratinocyte formation and division.
The study showed that vitamin C aids skin cell growth by reactivating genes linked to cell proliferation. It promotes the removal of methyl groups from DNA, a process known as DNA demethylation. DNA methylation can inhibit gene transcription. By promoting DNA demethylation, vitamin C boosts gene expression, assisting cells in growth, multiplication, and differentiation.
The global skincare market is projected to reach $185.7 billion by 2027 (Fortune Business Insights, 2024), reflecting increasing interest in anti-aging solutions.
Dietary Considerations
Vitamin C intake recommendations vary, with men advised to consume 90 milligrams daily, and breastfeeding mothers 120 milligrams. Yet, optimal skin health, as seen in this study, may necessitate more. The absorption of vitamin C may also depend on how the food is prepared.
Bell and chili peppers offer the highest amount of vitamin C per calorie. Research reveals that an orange contains about one-eighth the vitamin A of an orange grown in the 1950s.
This scientific breakthrough provides a promising avenue for harnessing vitamin C to combat skin aging and promote overall skin health. Further research may lead to innovative skincare products and dietary recommendations that maximize these benefits.
