Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. Low dose Aloe sterol (19µg) significantly improved skin barrier function and collagen production after 12 weeks of supplementation.
The ability for our skin to retain moisture is essential to skin barrier function and overall hydration 1,2. Aloe Vera, which is widely known for its use in wound healing, has been shown to improve skin elasticity and facial wrinkles in clinical trials 3,4. In the current study 5, researchers evaluated the effects of low dose Aloe sterol supplementation on skin functions in healthy female volunteers.
In a double-blind placebo controlled randomized trial, 122 healthy women between the ages of 30-55 were enrolled in a study on the effect of Aloe sterol on skin function. Aloe sterol was extracted from the mesophyll parts of Aloe vera gel and provided in capsule form. The total dose consisted of 8µg of lophenol (Lop) and 11µg of cycloartenol (Cyc) [in 2 capsules]. Participants were randomly assigned to placebo or test group and instructed to take 2 capsule per day for 12 weeks. Participants maintained a daily record of capsule intake, food and alcohol consumption, and tracked physical conditions or subjective symptoms experienced during the trial. Skin hydration, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), and body weight were measured at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12. Collagen score was measured at baseline and week 12. Medical examination of skin condition was performed at baseline and week 12. Parameters observed and scored were severity of dryness/scales, erythema, pruritis, wrinkles, and papules. Evaluation was conducted using the face and the inner and outer arms.
At the end of 12 weeks, data from 118 participants was eligible for analysis. Two participants in the placebo group withdrew from the trial before week 4 leaving 58 subjects in the placebo group and 60 subjects the supplementation group. Skin hydration was significantly higher in both placebo and Aloe sterol group at the end of 12weeks (27.78 ±6.42, p=0.0038 and 27.98 ±5.69, p=0006, respectively) compared to baseline (25.71 ±4.64 and 25.42 ±4.55, respectively). Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements were significantly higher in both Aloe sterol and placebo groups at week 4 (9.69 ±1.84, p<0.0001 vs. 9.75 ±1.87, p<0.0001), week 8 (9.77 ±1.61, p<0.0001 vs. 10.23 ±2.00, p<0.0001), and week 12 (9.72 ±1.42, p<0.0001 vs. 10.41 ±1.78, p<0.0001 respectively) compared to baseline (8.65 ±1.60 vs. 8.75 ±1.73, respectively). Further analysis showed that Aloe sterol was consistently lower in TEWL values compared placebo with significant reduction observed at week 12 (diff. = -0.641, p=0.0090). Collagen score significantly increased from baseline to week 12 in both groups (placebo baseline: 32.20 ± 7.24 vs. week 12: 33.64 ±7.63, p=0.0048; Aloe sterol baseline: 32.55 ±6.94 vs. week 12: 36.33 ±4.52, p<0.0001). However, collagen scores were significantly higher in the Aloe sterol group compared to placebo (diff. =2.159, p=0.0291). Medical examination of skin condition revealed significant improvement in dryness/scales and wrinkles at week 12 in both the Aloe sterol group (0.05 ±0.22, p<0.0001 and 2.27 ±1.52, p<0.0001, respectively) and the placebo group (0.07 ±0.26, p<0.0001 and 2.31 ±1.61, p=0.0002, respectively) compared to baseline (Aloe dryness score: 0.5 ±0.68, Aloe wrinkle score: 2.88 ±1.77 and placebo dryness score: 0.55 ±0.75, placebo wrinkles score: 2.74 ±1.65). Significant improvement in dryness/scales was also observed on the in both groups for the inner arm (Aloe group at week 12: 0.27 ± 0.52, p<0.0001 vs. baseline: 0.63 ± 0.76 and placebo group at week 12: 0.13 ±0.34, p<0.0001 vs. baseline: 0.66 ±0.76) and outer arm (Aloe group at week 12: 0.22 ±0.49, p<0.0001 vs. baseline: 0.90 ±0.73 and placebo group at week 12: 0.11 ±0.32, p<0.0001 vs. baseline: 0.63 ±0.76). Significant improvement in facial erythema and pruritus in outer and inner arms was observed at week 12 in the Aloe sterol group only (0.02 ±0.13 vs. 0.08 ±0.28, p=0.0445; 0.03 ±0.18 vs. 0.22 ±0.49, p=0.0037; 0.03 ±0.18 vs 0.13 ±0.39, p=0.0327, respectively). Facial papule score was improved in the placebo group at week 12 compared to baseline (0.02 ±0.14 vs. 0.14 ±0.40, p=0.0182). No significant affects on facial papules were observed in the Aloe sterol group.
Overall, Aloe sterol showed significant positive effects for skin barrier protection, collagen scores, and skin hydration. Similarly, significant improvement was observed in facial erythema and pruritis of inner and outer arms. Researchers concluded that low dose Aloe sterol (19µg) could significantly improve skin hydration and barrier function. Further testing is needed to investigate the mechanisms by which Aloe sterol exhibited these effects.
Source: Kaminaka, Chikako, Yuki Yamamoto, Mariko Sakata, Chiaki Hamamoto, Eriko Misawa, Kazumi Nabeshima, Marie Saito, Miyuki Tanaka, Fumiaki Abe, and Masatoshi Jinnin. “Effects of low‐dose Aloe sterol supplementation on skin moisture, collagen score and objective or subjective symptoms: 12‐week, double‐blind, randomized controlled trial.” The Journal of Dermatology (2020).
© 2020 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Posted September 28, 2020.
Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.
References:
- Tsunemi Y, Nakagami G, Takehara K, et al. Effects of skin care education for care staff at elderly care facilities on skin conditions of the residents. J Dermatol. 2020;47(4):327-333.
- Kamo A, Umehara Y, Negi O, et al. Effects of Kakato-tsurutsuru socks on dry heels in healthy volunteer subjects. J Dermatol. 2020;47(4):413-417.
- Cho S, Lee S, Lee M-J, et al. Dietary Aloe Vera supplementation improves facial wrinkles and elasticity and it increases the Type I procollagen gene expression in human skin in vivo. Annals of dermatology. 2009;21(1):6-11.
- Tanaka M, Yamamoto Y, Misawa E, et al. Effects of Aloe Sterol Supplementation on Skin Elasticity, Hydration, and Collagen Score: A 12-Week Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2016;29(6):309-317.
- Kaminaka C, Yamamoto Y, Sakata M, et al. Effects of low-dose Aloe sterol supplementation on skin moisture, collagen score and objective or subjective symptoms: 12-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. J Dermatol. 2020;47(9):998-1006.
