Researchers from France set out to determine whether glucosamine sulphate helped to prevent skin aging.
Glucosamine sulphate is a naturally occurring compound in the body. It helps to produce several substances such as:
- hyaluronic acid
- heparan sulfate
- glycosaminoglycans
Glycosaminoglycans, together with elastin and collagen, are the main components of human skin and help in maintaining the skin’s youthful glow.
When a person ages, there is a gradual loss of collagen and elastin, which leads to the development of wrinkles.
Loss of skin hydration also contributes to this process, which is due to a reduction in the levels of hyaluronic acid and heparan sulfate in the body.
What does the research say?
A study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology looked at the effectiveness of glucosamine sulphate in preventing skin aging. Here’s what they did:
- Normal human skin samples were obtained from three Caucasian women aged 32 to 50.
- Three skin samples from each donor were prepared, with each specimen exposed to different amounts of glucosamine sulphate (0ÎĽg/ml, 150ÎĽg/ml, 300ÎĽg/ml).
- The skin samples were then processed to determine the effects of glucosamine sulphate in preventing skin aging.
A clinical trialÂ
A clinical trial was also conducted by the researchers. The trial included eight healthy females aged 50 and above, who had their menopause at least two years prior to the study and were not taking any hormonal supplements for the duration of the study.
The participants were given one capsule containing 250mg of glucosamine sulphate daily for eight weeks.
Skin biopsies obtained from the same area were gathered before and after the glucosamine sulphate supplementation.
Glucosamine increases collagen in the skin
The results from these studies show that glucosamine sulphate may play a role in preventing skin aging. The experiments revealed that there is a direct relationship between levels of glucosamine sulphate and the levels of hyaluronic acid receptors and collagen production.
Levels of vimentin, a protein that plays a role in skin repair, as well as collagen I and III, were observed to be increased after eight weeks of glucosamine sulphate supplementation.
Results of the study
The study did not investigate the effects of glucosamine sulphate on skin repair and wound healing.
Overall, the results of the study suggest that glucosamine sulphate supplementation may be a promising method of slowing the effects of aging in the skin – however, more research is needed.
