What Other Women Say

I have always had brittle nails but since the birth of my son they had gotten really bad. I tried your product and my nails look great. My hair seems to be much better as well. Thanks for a great product. I recently ordered your energy product and I’ll let you know how that works out.

Deepthini
Toronto, ON

Methylsulfonylmethane [MSM] maintains skin health through its anti-inflammatory actions.
Environmental insults such as ultraviolet [UV] rays from sun, cigarette smoke exposure and pollutants, and the natural process of aging contribute to the generation of free radicals and ROS that stimulate the inflammatory process in the skin. MSM has a strong photoprotective action, which can increase the survival of keratinocytes and fibroblasts after irradiation with either UVA or UVB rays (Berardesca et al., 2007).

Hyaluronic acid is found in the connective tissue and joint fluids of vertebrates.
During aging, connective tissue loses its elasticity, which is thought to occur due to a loss in glycosaminoglycans, which primarly consists of hyaluronic acid (Ghersetich et al., 1994).

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, acting to protect cellular DNA from free radical damage and chromosomal mutations.
The skin is the outermost barrier of the body and as such is continuously exposed to exogenous sources of oxidative stress, including UV radiation, chemical oxidants and aerobic microorganisms. As the skin must provide the first line of defense against environmental free radical damage, it has developed a complex antioxidant network which includes both enzymatic and non-enzymatic components, including ascorbic acid. Vitamin C accumulates in keratinocytes, where it functions to regulate commitment to keratinocyte differentiation maintaining a balanced redox state. Vitamin C also has a novel signalling function as it is able to trigger skin differentiation and overcome the differentiation-dependent oxidative stress. In addition to antioxidant function, vitamin C also plays a critical role in the maintenance of normal mature collagen network in humans by preventing the auto-inactivation of lysyl and prolyl hydroxylase, two key enzymes in collagen biosynthesis (Catani et al., 2005).

Lipoic Acid is a potent antioxidant in both fat- and water-soluble mediums, both in its oxidized or reduced form.
Both alpha-lipoic and dihydrolipoic acid have metal-chelating capacity, as well as the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species, singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid, peroxynitrite and nitric oxide. However, only dihydrolipoic acid is able to regenerate endogenous antioxidants and repair oxidative damage. In addition, lipoic acid has been shown to increase cellular GSH in vivo and in vitro by becoming reduced and then cystine to cysteine for use in GSH production. The antioxidant action of lipoic acid has been used successfully in the prevention and treatment of photoageing (Biewenga et al., 1997; Han et al., 1997; Morganti et al., 2002; Patrick, 2006; Thom et al., 2005; Wollin and Jones, 2003).

Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine are branched chain amino acids that benefit hair health as human hair is composed primarily of amino acids.
Specifically, there is a significant concentration of branched chain amino acids in hair. Levels of these amino acids can be influenced by dietary intake, which can affect the integrity and health of hair (Robbins and Kelly, 1980). Calcium deficiencies have been reported to negatively affect nail health and lead to nail changes that are often reversible after supplementation. One example is hypocalecemia, which is linked to transverse leukonchia [white discolouration on the nail] and is reversible after supplementation (Scheinfeld et al., 2007).

Niacin studies in cell culture have found that niacinamide led to improved differentiation of keratinocytes and increased synthesis of ceramides, free fatty acids and cholesterol.
When these results applied to in vivo models, the same researchers demonstrated an improvement in epidermal barrier function by the topical application of niacinamide in the context of a vehicle-controlled study in the case of winter xerosis. These results can be presented as a reduction of transepidermal water loss and an improvement in horny layer moisture. In this study, 2% niacinamide was used in polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate. Similar results were observed by other researchers, who also showed improvement in horny layer moisture in combination with a reduction in transepidermal water loss after the topical application of 2% niacinamide. Niacin also appears to play an important role in preventing skin ageing by providing NADP, thereby having a stimulatory effect on collagen synthesis, epidermal biopolymers [proteins] keratin, filaggrin and involucrin (Ertel et al., 2000; Herschel and Zackheim, 1975; Oblong et al., 2002; Tanno et al., 2000; Tanno et al., 1997).

Pantothenic Acid may act through its stimulating actions on keratinocytes to maintain healthy hair, skin and nail health.
Evidence from an in vitro study suggests that pantothenic acid influences the cell growth and division of keratinocytes. In this study, the effects of cell growth-stimulating agents such as D-pantotheanate [pantothenic acid salt] on normal human keratinocytes derived from foreskin were investigated. Study data indicated that adding D-pantothenate to the growth medium moderately increased cell proliferation and increased the metabolic capacity in keratinocytes. Therefore, pantothenic acid can influence the healthy turnover of keratin-containing components, including hair, skin and nails, by raising the metabolic and proliferative capacity of keratinocytes (Obrigkeit et al., 2006).

Vitamin B6 plays an important role in collagen synthesis and maintenance.
Although the mechanism is not entirely known, lower rates of collagen synthesis are observed in vitamin B6 deficiency as well as dermatitis and eczema (Inubushi et al., 2005).

Silicon is a ubiquitous element found in various tissues of the human body and is present in 1–10 ppm in hair and nails.
Silicon deprivation has resulted in collagen malformations, as collagen enzymes are the first to be affected. It has also been suggested that silicon supplementation can also improve the appearance of brittle nails. Several clinical trials have investigated this idea and found that choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid can decrease nail brittleness, although no mechanism has yet to be described. Clinical trials have also found a benefit to silicon supplementation on hair brittleness; although, again, mechanisms of action have not been found yet (Jugadaosingh et al., 2000; Lassus, 1997; Reffitt et al., 2003).

Zinc concentrations are high in the skin and deficiency of this mineral leads to dermatitis and other skin disorders.
A possible target of zinc deficiency in the skin is the cytokeratins, which are essential for the structural integrity of keratinocytes. Blistering, which is a key feature of zinc deficiency, is also the main feature of the skin disorders epidermolysis bullosa simplex and epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, which are caused by mutations in cytokeratins 14 and 10, respectively. In vivo studies show the presence of altered cytokeratins in rats fed a zinc-deficient diet and in vitro studies indicate that zinc is required for cytokeratin polymerization. The cellular degeneration seen in zinc-deficient skin could be due to impaired cell–cell adhesion, as there is evidence that zinc deficiency affects E-cadherin, which provides anchoring sites for cytokeratins and is important for the integrity of the skin. Both zinc deficiency and ablation of E-cadherin cause loss of hair and epidermal hyperplasia (Wilson et al., 2006).

Thiamine [vitamin B1] supports normal growth and development of all tissues in the body.
In addition, it appears to have an antioxidant role which is particularly effective in the skin. Oxidative damage can lead to premature aging of the skin, which can be identified by increased wrinkling, ragging and actinic lentigines [sunspots]. Dull hair and brittle nails also can result as an effect of oxidative damage (Shangari et al., 2007).

Riboflavin [vitamin B2] deficiency has been shown to cause hair loss in animal models.
The beneficial effects of riboflavin on hair, skin and nails are partially due to its antioxidant activities. Oxidative stress can lead to photoageing of the skin as well as brittle hair and nails. The antioxidant activity of riboflavin may prevent oxidative stress from causing these undesired effects (Jacquet et al., 2007).

Biotin deficiency leads to pathologic, dermatologic and neurocutaneous manifestions in the skin and its appendages, including desquamative dermatitis and alopecia.
In addition, pharmacological doses of biotin have been found to improve the quality of hair and nails in humans in the absence of biotin deficiency. Based on the use of biotin in the treatment of pathologic horse hooves, it was suggested that it could also be used to treat human nail disease. Biotin has been found to effectively treat brittle nail syndrome, a disease characterized by soft, dry, weak and easily breakable nail that show onychorrhexis [lines or striations in the nail plate] and onychoschizia [fingernail splitting] (Fernandez-Mejia, 2005; Reilly et al., 1998; Uyttendaele et al., 2003).

Folate plays a crucial role in DNA synthesis and repair, as well as healthy cell division and replication.
This attribute makes it necessary for tissues that grow or regenerate rapidly, such as the skin. Skin cells increase both their folic acid uptake and reduced folate carrier-1 expression in response to UV exposure. Data from both in vitro and in vivo home-in-use studies using a folic acid-containing topical formulation found that it elicited beneficial cosmetic effects. Specifically, improvements of skin regeneration, protection from UV induced DNA damage [Comet assay], and reduction of wrinkle volume and skin visco-elasticity were tested. It should be noted that this topical formulation also included creatine, so not all of the effects can be attributed solely to folic acid. In addition, folate has been implicated to prevent hair loss in women. A study completed in women who had unexplained persistent hair shedding, but had a normal scalp hair density, found that they had reduced levels of serum folate and red blood cells. An association was found whereby reduced folate levels corresponded with increased hair loss and hair shedding (Knott et al., 2008; Knott et al., 2007; Rushton, 1993a; Rushton, 1993b).

Vitamin A [β-Carotene] is a dietary precursor to Vitamin A, and thus may have many important biological effects.
Of particular interest to skin health, treatment with retinoic acid has been found to decrease total keratin content of keratinocytes and change keratin expression patterns. During terminal differentiation, retinoic acid interferes with cornification by suppressing the expression of epidermal transglutaminase, an enzyme which is important to the cross-linking and formation of the cornified cell envelope. The cornified cell envelope structure is formed beneath the plasma membrane in terminally differentiating stratified squamous epithelia. It provides a vital physical barrier to these tissues in mammals and consists of layer of highly crosslinked insoluble proteins. In the specialized case of the epidermis, a layer of ceramide lipids is covalently bound to the proteins. These organize extracellular lipids into orderly lamellae and, together, the cell envelope and extracellular lipids are essential for effective physical and water barrier function in the skin (Kalinin et al., 2001).

Vitamin B12 appears to play a role in androgenetic alopecia.
A decreased serum vitamin B12 level was found in these patients; however, it has yet to be confirmed if these lower serum vitamin B12 concentrations were associated with increased hair shedding. It does appear, though, that vitamin B12 functions in the hair loss mechanism. Furthermore, deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to darkening of skin and nails and graying of hair. In a review of 63 patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, 41% of patients had skin changes [including skin hyperpigmentation] and 9% had hair changes. Specifically, evidence from one case report found that vitamin B12 deficiency caused reversible generalized hyperpigmentation of the skin and nails, with reversible premature gray hair (Ramsay and Rushton, 1990; Srivastava et al., 2006).

Vitamin D3 can act as a transcription factor, regulating the expression of genes related to epidermal differentiation and keratinocyte production of keratin.
These effects have led to the use of vitamin D on treatment of psoriasis, a hyperproliferative disease of the skin (Perez et al., 1996; van der Kerkhof, 1995).