Yeast-based Minerals for Hair, Skin and Nail Nutricosmetics

Posted: February 2, 2011

Lallemand Health Ingredients has launched a line of yeast-based minerals and vitamins for formulation into nutricosmetic products that promote healthy skin, nails or hair. Lalmin is a range of selenium, zinc and B vitamin yeasts designed for food supplements that provide antioxidant, anti-aging and sun protection to the skin, nails and/or hair.

The nutricosmetics market is growing in Western Europe, especially in France, Germany and Italy, according to the company. Meanwhile, according to a 2010 Euromonitor International report, the nutricosmetics market in Japan and China represents 18% and 13% of the dietary supplement sales respectively.

In relation, Lalmin Se was designed based on inactivated whole cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast containing elevated levels of organically-bound selenium. The company reports that selenium yeast was recognized in 2008 by the European Food Safety Authority as the most bioavailable source of selenium for human nutrition. The selenium-based yeast is said to offer sun protection and anti-aging antioxidant properties.

In a clinical study, the company found that the selenium-based yeast significantly increased skin tolerance to UV light in volunteers (+22% increase in the minimal erythema dose), reducing the risks of sunburns. Melanin production and skin coloration were also enhanced. In parallel, the study showed a significant reduction of UV-induced oxidative stress and a reduction of genotoxicity in skin, what was qualified as “an indicator of a potential reduction of the most deleterious effects of solar exposure, such as skin cancers and aging.”

The range offers additional yeast-based vitamins and minerals with recognized beauty benefits: a zinc yeast source with antioxidant, hair, nail and skin benefits; and B vitamins yeast standardized in seven B vitamins to maintain healthy hair and skin.