Beta glucan can battle wrinkles

The never ending battle against the wrinkles and fine lines of aging skin has received a scientific boost, thanks to an innovative study that shows oat beta glucan can penetrate the skin despite years of doctors and scientists' belief that the large molecule was too big.

Beta glucan has been considered helpful in healing wounds and smoothing skin, but this discovery can enhance its usage as an alternative to Botox.

The study, done in part by a University of Alberta spin-off company, is significant, not only in the treatment of skin disorders and removing fine lines and wrinkles but in the promotion of wound healing and reduction in scaring following surgical procedures.

Beta-glucan is the soluble fibre found in the cell walls of oat kernels. Oat has a long history of safe use in providing fast,temporary relief of itching and pain associated with minor skin irritations, has reported to improve the appearance of smoother skin and has helped wound healing.

But it has been long believed that such a large molecule as beta glucan was too big to penetrate the skin. In this paper, Dr Mark Redmond, president and CEO of Ceapro Inc, a spin-off company, and his co-authors describe using beta glucan-specific tracking dyes to show the skin penetration did take place.

Interestingly, the glucan penetrates in the same way that water penetrates a brick wall, it does not go through the brick, it goes through the concrete binding the bricks together, says Redmond.

First Published: Sep 30, 2005 19:05 IST