To determine the effect of beet extract on skin elasticity in female volunteers with dry skin and in human dermal fibroblasts. Method: To assess the effects of oral administration of glucosyl ceramide contained in beet extract (beet ceramide), we conducted an 8-week double-blind comparison study with 35 females (mean age: 40.9±4.2 years) with mild subjective symptoms of dry skin and declining keratin moisture levels. The compound was administered as glucosyl ceramide at 0, 0.6, or 1.8 mg/day to 3 groups (n=11, 12, 12, respectively). Results: Scores improved significantly for the following subjective skin symptoms: "concerned about dull skin," "concerned about spots or freckles," "sticky, oily skin," "coarse and desiccated skin," "not elastic, not glossy," "concerned about rough skin," "bags under eyes." In addition, perspiration levels improved. The skin elasticity test (Cutometer) indicated that the elasticity index (R2 and R7) improved in a dose-dependent manner. However, we were unable to confirm the effects of ceramide on increasing skin moisture as reported in previous studies. In experiments involving human dermal fibroblasts, addition of beet ceramide promoted fibronectin synthesis and mRNA expression but had no effect on fibroblast proliferation or collagen synthesis. Conclusion: Results from clinical trials and experiments suggested that oral ingestion of beet ceramide may stimulate intracellular signals and exert favorable effects on the extracellular matrix, including the induction of fibronectin synthesis. In addition, we confirmed the safety of administering beet ceramide to humans.

Reducing sugars, such as glucose in basic solutions, and lipids by β-oxidation or peroxidation generate formyl (aldehyde) and ketone groups. Aldehydes and ketones have a highly polarized carbonyl (C=O) group, the oxygen atom of which is electronegative and may react with nucleophiles in proteins. As a result, aldehydes and ketone groups may react non-enzymatically with cell proteins by glycation, and degrade protein function. Although similar reactions have been observed in vivo, we have little information on the relationship between these reactions and age-related changes in skin.Many age-related regressive changes are actually due to protein degradation, such as posttranslational modification (proteomic denaturation), accumulation of degenerated wastes, deterioration of functional proteins, functional disorder of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, or activation of inflammatory pathways by intracellular signals 1) . All of these changes are symptomatic of "glycation stress". Review Article Glycation Stress and Photo-Aging in Skin AbstractThis article reviews glycation stress as a factor linked to age-related diseases and functional and structural alterations of the skin. Photo-aging and glycation stress are major causes of skin deterioration. Glycation occurs when a reducing sugar, such as glucose or fructose, combines with a protein in a non-enzymatic reaction forming a glycated protein. Further reactions form advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which may accumulate in tissue. AGEs may also bind to a receptor for AGEs (RAGE), thus inducing inflammatory changes in skin and other tissues. The concept of glycation stress includes cellular and tissue responses to reducing sugars and aldehydes, not just to the production of AGEs.Glycation stress may be induced and affected by many factors, including exposure to ultraviolet light, which drastically intensifies AGE accumulation. AGEs modify skin collagen by reducing skin elasticity, and one result is wrinkle formation. AGEs accumulated in skin may be detected using auto-fluorescence (AF); our data from 136 healthy Japanese females shows the AF level is correlated with age.Glycation stress, and subsequently skin aging, may be reduced by managing levels of blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride through an appropriate diet, lifestyle, and intake of anti-glycation materials such as AGE generation inhibitors, AGE decomposers, and AGE receptor antagonists. Study of glycation stress may help identify new anti-aging treatments.

Objective: An open-label noncontrolled study was conducted in subjects with increased oxidative stress burden to evaluate the mental and physical effects of antioxidant astaxanthin. Methods: Of 35 healthy postmenopausal women, 21 with high oxidative stress (diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites; d-ROM) were selected, and 20 (55.7±4.8 years old, BMI 22.1±3.9) were included in the study, after excluding 1 dropout. In subjects orally treated with astaxanthin (Fuji Chemical Industry) at a daily dose of 12 mg for eight weeks, Anti-Aging QOL Common Questionnaire, somatometry, hematological examination/urinalysis, oxidative stress test, and vascular function tests (cardio ankle vascular index, CAVI; ankle brachial pressure index, ABI; fingertip acceleration pulse wave; flow-mediated dilation FMD) were performed before and four and eight weeks after the start of the study. Results: After eight-week treatment with astaxanthin, significant improvement was observed in 5 of 34 physical symptoms listed in the common questionnaire, including "tired eyes", "stiff shoulders", "constipation", "gray hair", and "cold skin", and in 3 of 21 mental symptoms, including "daily life is not enjoyable", "difficulty in falling asleep", and "a sense of tension". In addition, systolic (118.0±16.4 mmHg at baseline, -4.6%, p=0.021) and diastolic blood pressure (74.1±11.7 mmHg at baseline, -6.9%, p<0.001) significantly decreased. In the vascular function test, CAVI, fingertip acceleration pulse wave, and FMD did not change, but ABI significantly increased from 1.06±0.10 at baseline to 1.10±0.06 at Week 8 (+3.7%, p=0.030). In the oxidative stress test, d-ROM did not change, but BAP significantly increased (+4.6%, p=0.030). In biochemical examination, AST (-19.2%, p=0.044), LDH (-6.4%, p=0.006), and HbA1c (-3.2%, p<0.001) significantly improved. Although IGF-I and insulin did not change, DHEA-s (-15.1%, p<0.001), cortisol (-22.8%, p=0.002), and adiponectin (-14.1%, p=0.003) decreased. No serious adverse event occurred during or after the study. Conclusion: Results show that astaxanthin may enhance antioxidant capacity (increase BAP), reduce lower limb vascular resistance (increase ABI), decrease blood pressure, and improve physical symptoms in women with high oxidative stress. Abstractwas different from conventional studies involving healthy subjects alone. In addition, this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of astaxanthin on a comprehensive basis from the viewpoint of anti-aging medicine 2) rather than focusing on certain tissues/organs.

We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study to assess the anti-glycation effect of mixed herbal extract (MHE) in individuals with pre-diabetes mellitus. MHE was produced using hot water extraction from Anthemis nobilis (Roman chamomile), Crataegus oxyacantha (hawthorn berry), Houttuynia cordata (dokudami), and Vitis vinifera (grape leaf). We also assessed whether MHE showed favorable effects on one's quality of life (QOL). Design: The subjects consisted of 26 volunteers (male: 21; female: 5; age: 50.5 ± 8.5 years) with pre-diabetes mellitus (HbA1c: 5.5-6.7%). They were divided into two groups, the Test Group (13 subjects, age: 52.8 ± 8.2 years) and the Control Group (12 subjects, age: 49.3 ± 7.8 years). The Test Group was administered 1,200 mg of MHE (solid substance) per day for 8 weeks. The Control Group was administered a placebo. Results: The inter-group analysis using the Anti-Aging QOL Common Questionnaire (AAQol) showed that the score for the parameters, "muscular pain/stiffness", "headache", "easily angered", "reluctance to talk with others", "memory lapse", and "inability to readily make judgments" was significantly improved in the Test Group (p < 0.05). In terms of sugar metabolism, no significant variation was observed in fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, glycoalbumin, and insulin. A significant variation was not observed in the Test Group with regard to 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG), an intermediate of glycation, and N ε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and pentosidine, advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), in blood after 8 weeks. However, in the subjects with HbA1c of equal to or higher than 5.9%, the subclass inter-group analysis showed that the supplementation of MHE significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) an increase of CML in the Test Group, while CML increased in the Control Group. There was no significant variation in the Test Group regarding the oxidative stress markers, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and isoprostane in urine. The skin elasticity index (R2) obtained by using the cutometer started to decrease significantly in the Control Group after 4 weeks (p < 0.05), while the index showed a tendency that the skin elasticity was successfully maintained in the Test Group. There was no adverse event which was associated with the test product. Conclusion: These results suggest that MHE may improve the symptoms related to QOL as well as inhibit the generation of CML, one of AGEs, in individuals with abnormal sugar metabolism. Furthermore, the 8 weeks supplementation of MHE was considered to be safe.

Objective:We developed an easily maintained health promotion program for factory workers in a company which introduced an anti-aging medical checkup with pedometer-based walking management. Here, we describe it's effect on body and mind. Methods: Subjects were 17 male employees (mean age, 50.6±4.3 years old; mean body weight 82.8±9.2kg; mean BMI, 27.2±1.9kg/m 2 : mean abdominal circumference; 95.6±5.7cm) of a machine factory (Murata Machinery, Inuyama-city, Aichi) who were judged to require lifestyle guidance. They were provided with pedometers and encouraged to walk. Data records for the number of steps taken were collected every four weeks. An anti-aging medical checkup was conducted three times before, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after the study. Results: Collection ratio for information on the number of steps walked was 82.8%. The average daily number of steps walked increased from a baseline of 10277 steps by 1096 steps (10.7%) at 24 weeks. Anthropometry showed significant improvements in weight (-3.9%, p=0.013) BMI (-3.6%, p=0.014) and abdominal circumference (-4.8%, p=0.003). Clinical laboratory tests showed significant improvements in HDL cholesterol (pre-value 51.0±10.0mg/dl, 12.7%, p=0.043), HbA1c (pre-value 5.5±0.6%, -8.4%, p<0.001) and adiponectin (pre-value 5.17±1.03μg/ml, 39.9%, p=0.001). Anti-aging medical checkup showed the highest functional age, 35.3% in nerves, 35.3% in bone, and 29.4% in blood vessels, as well as significant changes in vascular age by acceleration plethysmography SDP-100 (pre-value 52.1±12.0 years old, -12.7%, p=0.024), calcaneus bone stiffness by ultrasonography A-1000 (9.5%, p=0.007), and response time by the Wisconsin card sorting test (p=0.024). No significant change was noted in muscle age as evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (Physion MD). The questionnaire showed that the major reason for continuation with the program was "the presence of an anti-aging medical checkup", health promotion was assisted by "results of anti-aging medical checkup", and the modified behavior was "increased amount of exercise". Conclusion: This health promotion program, consisting of an anti-aging medical checkup and pedometer-guided walking program, appears effective in improving the lifestyle and condition of factory workers. Abstract