MICROgenics^® Advanced Silica Complex

Healthy skin, hair and nails require optimal nutrition. Various vitamins, minerals and nutrients help to form and support these tissues and may help to protect them from oxidative damage, including their structural components such as collagen in the skin, and keratin in skin, hair and nails.

Collagen production may reduce due to ageing. Other factors can affect collagen, decreasing its production or increasing its breakdown, including UV radiation, free radical damage, and smoking.¹

Keratin is a primary component of skin, hair and nails. The term keratin more accurately refers to a complex mixture of proteins found in epithelial cells. The keratins of the skin differ from those of the hair and fingernails. Keratins maintain the structural integrity of cells, and protect against mechanical stresses. They are also involved in other cell functions such as cell signaling, cell transport and cell differentiation.²

Nutrients that may support healthy skin, hair and nails

Silica is a naturally occurring form of silicon (silicon dioxide), and is an important nutrient for the health of the connective tissues, including tendons, ligaments, and bone, as well as the skin, hair and nails.³ In fact, the highest concentrations of silicon are found in hair and skin.⁴

Silicon may help in the synthesis of collagen⁴ and also appears to play a role in its stabilisation,³ which is important for imparting strength to connective tissues.

Equisetum arvense (Horsetail) is a herb that is known to have minor wound healing actions. As a natural plant source of silica, containing 2-3% of elemental silica, it may assist in strengthening and regenerating connective tissues.⁵ such as the structural components of skin, hair and nails.

Grape seed (Vitis vinifera) is a rich source of plant flavonoids (polyphenols) called proanthocyanidins, mixtures of which are referred to as OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins).

Grape seed polyphenols have beneficial effects due to their powerful free radical scavenging capabilities. Some scientific studies have shown that the antioxidant power of the proanthocyanidins in grape seed extract is greater than that of vitamin E and vitamin C.^6,7 They protect vitamins from early oxidation and make vitamins available for their primary functions. Therefore, grape seed works in synergy with other antioxidants such as vitamin C and E, and carotenoids, and may help protect the body from free radical damage that results in premature ageing.⁷

Grape seed OPCs stimulate cross-linking of collagen fibres, thereby strengthening connective tissue.^8,9 Research suggests that grape seed extract may help maintain cell health, skin elasticity and flexibility,⁷ and may assist wound healing.¹⁰

Lycopene is a fat-soluble carotenoid that is found in tomatoes and other fruits such as watermelon, pink grapefruit, guava and papaya, giving them their red colour.¹¹ Plasma levels of lycopene are known to decrease with ageing.^12,13

Lycopene is one of the most potent antioxidants among the dietary carotenoids. Unlike ?-carotene, it does not have provitamin A activity. The antioxidant properties of lycopene are thought to play a large part in its biological effects.¹⁴ Lycopene’s antioxidant activity can decrease the cell damage caused by free radicals.^15,16 Research indicates that lycopene can provide protective benefit to the skin, and may help maintain healthy skin.^17,18

Vitamins for healthy skin, hair and nails

Biotin is a water soluble vitamin, generally classified as part of the B-group vitamins. It is a cofactor for certain carboxylase enzymes and plays a role in gluconeogenesis, synthesis of fatty acids, metabolism of some amino acids, cholesterol and fatty acids.¹⁹ Smoking may increase catabolism of biotin, leading to increased requirements.²⁰

Biotin is important for healthy nails and skin and hair. Biotin stimulates epidermal differentiation and keratin production. Marked biotin deficiency is associated with poor nail quality,²¹ dermatitis (facial and genital), and hair loss.¹⁹,

Research indicates that biotin supplementation helps to strengthen soft brittle nails and reduce breaking and splitting of nails. Biotin supplementation may help maintain healthy nails.^22,23

Vitamin C is well known as an antioxidant, helping to reduce free radical damage. It can not only do this directly, but also via regeneration of another important antioxidant, vitamin E.²⁴

Vitamin C is an important vitamin for healthy skin. It is essential for collagen production and also the synthesis of intercellular material, helping to maintain the integrity of connective tissue.^25,26 Additionally, due to its antioxidant actions Vitamin C assists skin defences and repair mechanisms.²⁴ Therefore, vitamin C is important for wound healing and tissue repair, and it may also facilitate recovery from burns.²⁵

Vitamin E: A fat soluble antioxidant that protects cells from free radical damage, vitamin E may help to decrease the risk of skin cell damage.²⁷ Vitamin E is considered to be one of the most important and potent lipid-soluble antioxida

Minerals for healthy skin, hair and nails

Zinc is an essential mineral that has many differing roles in the body, including various roles in supporting healthy skin and hair. Zinc serves as the active centre of approximately 300 enzymes, and contributes to growth and development, wound healing, immune function, and skin metabolism ? particularly collagen synthesis.²⁹ Zinc deficiency is associated with alopecia, a number of skin conditions, and delayed wound healing.^29,30

Zinc has an important function as part of the body’s antioxidant system. Zinc protects against vitamin E depletion, controls vitamin A release and contributes to the structure of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase, so reducing free radical damage and stabilising cell membranes.³¹

Copper is another essential trace element/mineral that contributes to the health of skin and hair. Copper is part of the enzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant which works to protect against free radical damage. Copper is vital for the function of the enzyme lysyl oxidase, which is required for the cross-linking of the connective tissue proteins, collagen and elastin; and so is essential for the formation of strong and flexible connective tissue. It is also required for the formation of melanin, the pigment that gives colour to the skin, hair and eyes.³²

Manganese may also contribute to the health of skin, hair and nails. This mineral is involved in proteoglycan and collagen synthesis. It is required for the activation of prolidase, an enzyme that provides the amino acid, proline, for collagen formation in skin cells; while manganese-activated glycosyltransferases are required for the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans that comprise part of the ground substance that supports collagen and elastin in the dermis.³³

Cautions

Avoid using during pregnancy and lactation due to insufficient reliable information (grape seed).

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