Why Anti-Aging Skin Care Products with Anti-Oxidants May Not Be Effective

Lately, many manufacturers and distributors of various beauty products enjoyed the hype on anti-oxidants. The use of anti-oxidants as an active ingredient in many anti aging skin care products has thrived greatly primarily because of an early research which gave birth to the “free radical theory”.  However, recent studies have shown that diets and cosmetic products which have anti-oxidant properties are not really effective in preventing aging.

The mistake…

More than fifty years ago, the scientist Denham Harman promoted a theory on aging. Harman stated that the process of growing old occurred due to the buildup of molecular damages caused by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the action of the various forms of oxygen on the body cells.  Primary of these reactive forms is the “superoxide”. Since 1956, the free radical theory has been used as a basis in the development of anti-aging skin care products. But now, a study conducted by the researchers at the UCL (University College of London) Institute of Healthy Aging showed that this theory is wrong.

The real deal…

According to the study conducted by Dr. David Gems and his colleagues at the UCL, superoxide is not the major cause of growing old. The study which was published in the Genes & Development journal showed that although “superoxide” free radicals – those oxygen atoms which have unequal amounts of electrons and protons – will cause oxidation and normal molecular damage to the body, our biological processes are capable of repairing that damage.

“The fact is that we don’t understand much about the fundamental mechanisms of aging,” asserts Dr. Gems. “The free radical theory of aging has filled a knowledge vacuum for over fifty years now, but it just doesn’t stand up to the evidence.”

Details of the study

The study focused on the action of key genes which were involved in removing superoxide from the nematode worm C. elegans, one of the models typically used in developing various anti aging skin care products and other researches on aging. Through the manipulation of the key genes, the researchers were able to control the ability of the worm to eradicate surplus superoxide in its cells and limit the effects of oxidative stress.

“One of the hallmarks of aging is the accumulation of molecular damage, but what causes this damage? It’s clear that if superoxide is involved, it only plays a small part in the story. Oxidative damage is clearly not a universal, major driver of the aging process. Other factors, such as chemical reactions involving sugars in our body, clearly play a role,” concludes Dr Gems.

Dr. Alan Schafer, Head of Molecular and Physiological Sciences at the Wellcome Trust noted that the research yielded important insights to the process of creating and developing many anti aging skin care products. “Research such as this points to how much we have to learn about aging; and the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind this process. This new study will encourage researchers to explore new avenues in aging research,” Dr. Schafer stated.