Glico Rolls Out New Study on Skin Protection

The laboratories of Glico Nutrition Company Ltd. previously demonstrated the ability of glycogen, the highly branched α-D-glucan, to increase production of hyaluronan and ATP, the dual pillars of cell health and vitality. Today Glico announces an important new study revealing that its newly-released, refined glycogen product, Bioglycogen, goes much further to reduce oxidative stress on cells, counter the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mediate programmed cell death (apoptosis) to improve overall resistance to damage by UVB radiation in vitro.

The body’s use of the naturally-occurring polysaccharide glycogen is axiomatic in the study of biology. We learn that it is mainly present in the liver and skeletal muscle, and stores energy that is used by the body for everyday homeostatic functions, as well as enabling its quick release in the performance of rigorous activity. What’s less known is its role as a protector of basal skin cells. Bioglycogen is a recently synthesized glycogen that was developed by Japanese nutritional giant Glico expressly for that purpose; to bolster the cells’ own resistance to oxidation, lower UVB-induced caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation, and reduce erythema. Unlike substances that scatter and absorb UV radiation, Bioglycogen is formulated to work in ways that are intrinsic to the functions of human epidermal cells, augmenting and increasing their inherent potential to resist its damaging impact.

Recent in vitro laboratory testing yielded results showing that epidermal cells treated with Bioglycogen, referred to generically as enzymatically synthesized glycogen (ESG), indicated increased levels of antioxidant proteins heme oxygenase-1 and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1. At the same time, in vivo clinical testing, which involved human testers applying a cream containing 0.5% Bioglycogen showed a significant reduction in redness following UVB exposure.

The body’s store of glycogen is known to diminish with age, and more than 45 years ago it was shown that exposure to UV radiation caused glycogen volume to drop precipitously, at which time the body attempts to replace it through natural processes – emphasizing its role in supporting cell health and the need to replenish it. Glico created its synthesized form of glycogen, Bioglycogen – which has had GRAS status as a food ingredient in the United States since 2010 – through a unique process, highly refined for ultimate purity, from three discrete enzymes acting on plant sources. Bioglycogen perfectly resembles glycogen in its nanomolecular structure, and behaves like naturally-occurring glycogen in its activity in the body.

The newin vitro study demonstrates very significantly decreased accumulation of reactive oxygen species with the topical administration of Bioglycogen and increased inhibitory effects against UVB-induced apoptosis in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs), along with a notable reduction of erythema in clinical test. This study exponentially magnifies the potential value of synthesized glycogen, and the opportunity for a range of new, beneficial applications in cosmetic products to advance the fight against cell degradation due to aging and the damaging acceleration of cell oxidation brought on by exposure to sunlight.

Glico Nutrition Company Ltd. is one of a group of companies comprising Ezaki Glico Group, founded in Osaka, Japan in 1922.