Research — vitamins

Research Summary: Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is an essential nutrient that, once inside the body, is converted into the co-factors NADH and NADPH. These co-factors are involved in numerous biochemical reactions. A deficiency of this water-soluble vitamin, a member of the vitamin B family, causes pellagra, a disease characterized by dermatitis and red lesions. Pellagra led to thousands of deaths in the United States during the first half of the 20th century until dietary supplementation with niacinamide was found to cure the condition.As we age, NAD+ and NADPH levels in skin cells decline. Therefore, supplementing the skin with...

Research Summary: Although many cosmeceutical formulations contain vitamin C and/or vitamin E, very few are actually effective in topical application. This is due to several factors. First, the concentration of these vitamins is often too low. Second, their stability is compromised once the product is opened and exposed to air and light. Third, the form of the molecule (either an ester or a mixture of isomers) may not be effectively absorbed or metabolized by the skin.However, when a stable formulation delivers a high concentration of the nonesterified, optimal isomer of the antioxidant, vitamins C and E can indeed inhibit the...