A range of skin-loving ingredients from Nutraceuticals
By Jess Martin – Quality System Analyst
Nutritional supplements benefit our bodies both on the inside and outside. A popular and ever in demand ingredient is collagen due to its links in reducing photoaging and promoting youthful-looking skin. However, there are many ingredients that contribute to and promote the production of collagen that shouldn’t be overlooked.
L-Lysine
L-Lysine is an essential amino acid, and one that is necessary in the production of collagen. Collagen is the protein responsible for the shape and mechanical properties of our skin tissue and Lysine is critical for its synthesis and function. It’s essential in the structure of collagen as it acquires numerous enzymatic modifications (post-translational modifications), particularly those that allow links between collagen chains.
L-Lysine can also inhibit collagenases, which are a group of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), which are the main type of enzymes responsible for collagen degradation.
By being able to reduce collagen breakdown, L-Lysine is an excellent companion in supporting wound healing and slowing down the physical symptoms of ageing skin. On the epidermis level, it can facilitate cell proliferation, reduce inflammation, angiogenesis (vascularisation) and has the potential to have antimicrobial effects.
