Advanced Nutrition Programme secures patent for microbiome skin supplement

The patent for ‘Skin Clear Biome’ covers three claims linked to the appearance and condition of the skin based on emerging research into the gut-skin connection. The formula includes specific strains of bacteria and yeast; Bifidobacterium Bifidum, Lactobacillus Helveticus, Saccharomyces Boulardii ​(a yeast found in previous research​ to be beneficial for skin health) and zinc to contribute to the maintenance of normal hair, nails and skin. 

The London based-brand, which hosts an in-house research center and markets a catalog of more than 15 products, has been on a mission to develop evidence-based oral skincare supplements since its launch in 2006, Lorraine Perretta, head of nutrition, told NutraIngredients. 

“We’ve always aimed to be at the forefront of development and research,” she said. “So when the microbiome was just starting to be discussed, I knew we had to dig into the research for skin health.” 

Perretta explained that she started attending conferences and events on the microbiome when it began to gain attention in 2014. While other product developers in the industry were looking at biotics for sports nutrition, fertility and digestion, she decided that there was an opportunity for skin health. 

“It was very early on in the microbiome conversation, but I said to the team I think there’s something in it, so that’s when we started looking at the different strains of bacteria and the different actions that they had,” she said. 

ANP’s first gut-skin axis product was Youth Skin Biome, launched in 2019 after five years of development.