No one doubts the importance of eating a healthy diet to maintain a good state of health, but neither does its power to prevent the development of certain pathologies, influence their evolution or improve the appearance of the skin or hair. In fact, various studies have analyzed the relationship between certain compounds naturally present in food, such as some vitamins and minerals, with an improvement in the digestive system, the immune system, or even skin parameters such as hydration or wrinkle formation.
Hence the boom in the development of food supplements, products that “are presented with the purpose of complementing
the intake of such nutrients in the normal diet, since, although under normal circumstances an adequate and balanced diet provides all the necessary nutrients for the normal development and maintenance of a healthy organism, the investigations carried out show that this ideal situation does not occur in the practice for all nutrients, nor for all population groups”, point out from the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition.
Among the food supplements are nutriceuticals, the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) clarifies, dietary supplements in the form of pills, capsules, powders, ampoules, gummies, etc. with concentrated active substances. These compounds, they add, naturally present in food, could have a favorable effect on health if taken in a higher dose than what the diet could provide. And in the event that the intention of these supplements is to act on the skin and hair, they clarify, they are called nutricosmetics.
The preventive, holistic and ecologically conscious approach to health, combined with an increase in the aging of the population and its concern to mitigate the problems associated with it are the main drivers of the nutricosmetics sector in the world. A sector in continuous growth that is based on the use of concentrates of natural substances to improve skin hydration, reduce inflammation, improve its appearance and contribute to protection against solar radiation.
Some of the most common active ingredients in this type of product are vitamins A, C and E, antioxidants such as resveratrol and lycopene, essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6, minerals, collagen or hyaluronic acid.
• Collagen: this protein naturally present in the skin contributes to its firmness and elasticity. In nutricosmetics it is used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin elasticity.
• Hyaluronic acid: also naturally present in the skin, it is one of the components associated with its hydration. It is also used to preserve volume, reduce dryness and smooth wrinkles.
• Antioxidants: substances such as resveratrol or lycopene fight oxidative stress on the skin caused by free radicals and associated with ageing. These compounds help prevent cell damage, reduce inflammation, and promote younger, healthier-looking skin.
• Essential acids such as omega 3, omega 6 or omega 9 have anti-inflammatory properties and contribute to preserving the skin’s cell membrane, which is why they are associated with a healthy appearance, reducing sensitivity and inflammation and promoting hydration.
• Vitamins and minerals: vitamins A, B, C and E are some of the most common in the composition of nutricosmetics due to their association with skin regeneration, elasticity and smoothness or collagen production. Among the minerals, iron, zinc and selenium are common, with regenerative and protective effects. In any case, the effectiveness of nutri-cosmetics will depend on the characteristics of each person, their state of health and their lifestyle. For safety and to improve its effectiveness, it is recommended to consult a specialist before starting a treatment of nutritional supplements.
