Booth 4F10

Curcushine, a microencapsulated curcuminoid ingredient manufactured by Lubrizol, was linked to improvements in skin appearance and radiance, according to a new clinical study published in Agro Food Industry Hi Tech. At Vitafoods Europe, the company will showcase the latest research on the ingredient.

Curcumin has been popularized lately as a healthy aging ingredient, thanks to its inflammatory-modulating, antioxidant, and skin-brightening properties.

“It’s clear that consumers are increasingly interested in supplements that support a radiant complexion, hair growth, and overall beauty, with a major emphasis on preventive measures for aging,” said Isabel Gómez, global marketing manager for Lubrizol Nutraceuticals. “Notably, taking a proactive approach to aging gracefully is in vogue among younger adults, including Gen Z and Millennials. The rising trend of ‘prejuvenation’ reflects this shift, focusing on nutricosmetic products that help maintain a youthful appearance and prevent signs of aging before they occur.”

Curcumin ingredients typically come with absorption and solubility challenges. Curcushine microcapsules can enhance the dispersibility of curcumin in water, and improve its bioavailability compared to standardized curcumin ingredients.

Study Details

The monocentric, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study selected 63 healthy female volunteers between the ages of 21 and 50 with facial skin imperfections, such as dark spots or acne marks, or fine lines in the crow’s feet area. The goal was to determine the efficacy of the curcumin extract in improving the appearance of these marks.

The volunteers were divided into two groups that took either the supplement or a placebo in the form of a water-dispersible powder daily for 42 days. The group that consumed the powder with the active ingredient ingested two-gram Curcushine microcapsules, which provided 0.5 grams of curcumin. Neither the study staff nor the participants were aware of the names or compositions of the products, as the supplements were assigned according to a randomization list.

Compared to placebo, Curcushine was effective in improving the appearance of the skin, in standard measures of radiance and wrinkle depth, as well as mitigating signs of aging and skin oxidation in dermatological tests, the authors concluded.

More specifically, crow’s feet wrinkles decreased in depth by 10.32% on average, while forehead wrinkles decreased by an average of 5.14%, in the treatment group. Brown spots were also reduced by up to 8%, skin luminosity increased by up to 19%, and skin homogeneity increased by 69% on average, according to the authors.

“The results of this clinical study, along with the previous lab study underscore’s Curcushine’s potential in supporting skin rejuvenation and overall beauty enhancement,” said Teresa Negra, nutraceuticals new business development manager at Lubrizol. “This is attributed to the microencapsulation technology used, which enables curcumin to be easily absorbed within the body radiating its positive benefits on the epidermal layers of skin, rendering it a powerful natural beauty-from-within agent.”

“Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are reflected by the noticeable improvement in skin luminosity and uniform skin tone, along with a visible reduction in signs of aging,” said Alan Connolly, nutraceuticals R&D manager at Lubrizol. “This most likely occurs through the reduction of harmful reactive oxygen molecules and inflammation, which contributes to the modulation of collagen synthesis. However further studies are needed to verify this. Still, it can be concluded that Curcushine is a beneficial nutricosmetic ingredient that exerts a protective effect on skin structures when supplemented regularly alongside a standard diet.”