Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Aging leads to structural and compositional changes in the skin, contributing to more wrinkles, less smoothness, and dryness. There is growing interest in oral non-invasive interventions to help ameliorate visual signs of skin aging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an oral skincare supplement containing hyaluronic acid and wheat oil extract on parameters of skin aging in a diverse population. METHODS: Healthy adults (ages 26-64) were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 31) or placebo group (n = 32). The intervention group received an oral skincare supplement consisting of wheat oil extract and low molecular weight sodium hyaluronate, with a 12-week follow-up period. RESULTS: The intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in crow's feet wrinkles and improvements in both facial and global skin smoothness beginning at week 8 and continuing to week 12, compared to the placebo group. Additionally, the intervention group exhibited significant increases in skin hydration and elasticity in the leg region relative to the placebo group. Dermatologists' evaluations revealed significant reductions in global scores of both deep and fine wrinkles from baseline to week 12, but only in the intervention group. By week 12, a greater proportion of participants in the intervention group reported improvements in fine lines and wrinkles, skin radiance/glow, skin resilience/elasticity, and overall signs of aging, with these changes being significantly different from the placebo group. CONCLUSION: An oral skincare supplement combining wheat oil extract and hyaluronic acid offers a comprehensive method for addressing skin aging, providing measurable clinical improvements in various skin parameters and enhancing subjective perceptions of skin health and appearance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT06083402.