Effects of Phosphoryl Oligosaccharides of Calcium (POs-Ca) on Epidermal Cells and Human Skin

Abstract

Phosphoryl oligosaccharides of calcium (POs-Ca) is a calcium salt of phosphoryl maltooligosaccharides made from potato starch. POs-Ca has high solubility in water and it can supply both calcium ion and acidic oligosaccharides in an aqueous medium. In this study, we evaluated effects of POs-Ca on cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) and human skin. Several in vitro studies using cultured NHEK demonstrated that POs-Ca promoted NHEK differentiation, tight junction formation, intercellular lipid production, and gene expression involved in stratum corneum condition, skin barrier function and hydration. Skin penetration study using a three-dimensional epidermal model demonstrated that POs-Ca was able to provide both calcium ion and phosphoryl oligosaccharides to the epidermis. Furthermore, an in vivo study demonstrated that POs-Ca improved human skin conditions including hydration, barrier function, stratum corneum condition and skin texture. These results suggest that POs-Ca can be a superior active agent for healthy epidermis.