The Effects of Rice Ceramide Supplementation in Improving Skin Health

EFFECTS OF RICE CERAMIDES IN IMPROVING SKIN HEALTH - STUDY PROTOCOL

INTRODUCTION

Background

Ceramides are important structural components of the epidermis, which plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis of the human body. Specifically, its outermost layer, known as the stratum corneum, forms a barrier between the external environment and the internal body. This barrier function serves multiple purposes including prevention of water loss and protection from foreign insult. The structure of the stratum corneum is often referred to as ''brick and mortar''. The ''bricks'' are terminally differentiated keratinocytes composed mostly of keratin filaments and filaggrin. The ''mortar'' is composed of intercellular lipids arranged into lamellar layers consisting of ceramides, free fatty acids, and cholesterol. Ceramides are the predominant lipid comprising approximately 50% of the intercellular lipid content by mass. Stratum corneum lipids are essential for maintaining skin barrier function and preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Disruptions or damage to the stratum corneum can impair skin barrier function and result in TEWL.

Ceramides have been added to newer cosmetic products to improve skin barrier function and exogenously replenish skin ceramides. Of the stratum corneum intercellular lipids, Ceramides are the most effective at restoring barrier function and increasing skin hydration. Different ceramides have been incorporated into cosmetic formulations, but understanding the differences between ceramides used in formulations, or even identifying ceramides in formulations can be complex. This is mostly because of an archaic nomenclature system that is fundamentally flawed based on current scientific evidence. In the recent past, due to the unique bioactive components of rice, it has been explored to a certain limit for its components. Further, much attention has been paid to the plant ceramide with its incorporation into cosmetics and food preparations owing to its safety in contrast to animal/synthetic origin. There are reports on plant ceramide deciphering its protective effects on human skin by preventing moisture loss. It has been anticipated that ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol in combination with hydrocortisone (HC) can be an useful therapeutic agents against xerosis and atopic dermatitis. In addition, report also showed that topical emulsions containing ceramides possessed anti-inflammatory and skin beneficial properties. Hence, isolation of ceramide from natural source possessing anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties becomes vital.