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| Photo Credit: Christin Hume |
Researchers from King’s College London and Yakult Science for Health have conducted a comprehensive review of existing research exploring how probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic supplements may influence skin health and disease.
The review mapped 516 studies from around the world examining the relationship between these supplements and various aspects of skin health, from general skin condition to the management of diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne.
Our diet can influence skin health through its impact on the gut microbiome — the community of microorganisms living in our digestive tract. The concept of a gut–skin axis was first proposed nearly a century ago but has gained renewed attention in recent years, as growing evidence suggests that changes in gut microbes can affect skin condition and ageing. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are thought to promote skin health by modifying the gut microbiome, which may in turn improve skin function and resilience.
Following a systematic search, the research team identified 516 studies in this area. Just over half of the studies were human trials or observational studies, around 30% involved animal models, and the remainder were reviews summarizing trial findings.
Among skin diseases, atopic dermatitis was the most extensively studied condition, featuring in 330 papers, followed by psoriasis with 24 studies and acne with 23 studies. Research into skin health and ageing in otherwise healthy populations is also expanding– 54 studies were found examining links between supplementation and factors such as wrinkling, elasticity and UV response, and 29 studies exploring effects on skin hydration.
The review found that infants were the most frequently studied human group, representing 42 percent of human studies, where supplementation was typically aimed at preventing or managing atopic dermatitis. In contrast, older adults aged over 60 were included in only 15 percent of human studies, indicating a gap in research for this age group, particularly in relation to skin conditions such as pressure ulcers.
Most studies focused on probiotics, which accounted for around 80 percent of the total research, while evidence relating to prebiotics and synbiotics remains relatively limited.
The authors identified several important gaps in the current body of research. These include the need for an umbrella review to consolidate findings on atopic dermatitis, updated systematic reviews on acne and psoriasis to reflect recent trial data, and a review of skin ageing to summarize the latest human evidence. The review also revealed a need for more human trials investigating the potential benefits of probiotic and prebiotic supplements in skin conditions such as skin cancer, rosacea, alopecia, melasma, and dandruff.
The review also highlighted several methodological improvements for future research. These include accounting for participants’ habitual diets, which can influence both the gut microbiome and skin health; improving the reporting of probiotic strains and doses to allow for better comparisons across studies and more informed clinical decisions; and ensuring greater diversity in study populations, as 85 percent of existing human studies were conducted in Europe or Asia.
Reference material: What Is: The Human Microbiome
Published in journal: Nutrition Reviews
Authors: Rebecca A Hillier, Rachel Gibson, Thivi Maruthappu, Kevin Whelan, Emily J Prpa, Holly R Neill, Charlotte G Phillips, and Wendy L Hall
Source/Credit: King’s College London
Reference Number: mb120625_01
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