Milk Peptides

What are they? 

Bio-active polypeptides (cytokines) obtained from milk, stabilized in a physiological milieu of other valuable, functional milk components.

What do they do? 

With increasing age, the skin loses firmness, thins and is prone to developing wrinkles. At the macromolecular level, this process is caused by a change of and loss in dermal structure: the density and composition of the so-called extracellular matrix deteriorates in time. There are two main reasons inducing these phenomena. First of all, the number and activity of fibroblasts in the dermis decreases in the course of time. This leads to a decline of production of molecules which make up the extracellular matrix. On top of that, these molecules are increasingly degraded.

MPC’s activity is based on the activation of fibroblasts via a cell-signalling pathway. MPC accomplishes this by delivering TGF (transforming growth factor β) in its active form, the most important cytokine in this process, to the skin. Cytokines are the key signal, or regulatory molecules, in our body. They transfer stimulatory or inhibitory signals to the cells in order to trigger cell response resulting in the restoration of a physiologically balanced skin. TGF is a typical stimulatory cytokine for fibroblasts. MPC acts as a booster of collagen type I, hyaluronic acid and fibronectin synthesis, leading to a reorganization of the ECM. These in vitro results proving the reconstitution of regenerative functions of MPC were also confirmed in vivo in several tests on humans.

MPC helps the skin to restore its functions and appearance.

Stimulation of Type 1 Collagen. 

90% of collagen within the dermis is Type 1. It gives the dermis its mechanical strength and plays a vital role in giving the skin its firmness. MPC boosts the collagen synthesis by fibroblasts by an increase of 40% over untreated cells.

Stimulation of Hyaluronic Acid synthesis.

Hyaluronic acid is by far the most abundant and biggest glycosaminoglycan (a type of polysaccharide) in the dermis. It is responsible for establishing 90% of the volume of the extracellular matrix in the dermis and plays an important role in cell-to-cell signalling. MPC boosts the hyaluronic acid synthesis by fibroblasts by nearly 1900%.

Reduction in Depth of Wrinkles.

MPC was tested on crow’s feet around the eye area. On one side of the face a formulation using 0.5% MPC was used over 14 days. The other side was treated with a placebo. The formulations were applied by 20 volunteers twice daily. After 14 days the depth of the wrinkles was determined in %. 0.5% of milk peptides saw a 35% decrease in the depth of wrinkles.

Increase in Skin Smoothness.

The surface of the skin was scanned by active image triangulation, using a digital micro mirror device. Formulations were applied on 20 volunteers twice daily. After 14 days, skin roughness was determined and the increase in smoothness (%) calculated. Using 0.5% of the complex, there was a 17% increase in smoothness.

MPC’s strong boosting effects on collagen, fibronectin and especially hyaluronic acid result in strong and very fast effects on skin as proven in clinical studies.