Nutraceutical ingredient supplier Stratum Nutrition has launched Ovulux, an eggshell membrane collagen ingredient, and announced the publication of a human clinical study backing its benefits for skin, hair, and nails.

The ingredient, upcycled from USDA-sourced eggshells, was found to improve biomechanical skin properties versus placebo, such as elasticity, firmness, hydration, and viscoelasticity. The ingredient also improved measures of hair strength and texture, and fingernail strength and growth rates (the latter of which occurred in women only).

The study recruited 63 healthy men and women between the ages of 35 and 66, who were randomly assigned to take a 300 mg dose of Ovulux daily or a placebo for 12 weeks.   The authors used a range of objective skin measurements typically used in studies on skin health, such as measurements with the Cutometer MPA 580 multi-probe system, as well as subjective parameters determined through patient’s assessments.

“Because ESM [eggshell membrane] closely resembles the constituents of human skin, it is not particularly surprising that ESM has shown significant benefits when used topically for wound healing. Perhaps more interesting is that oral supplementation with ESM has proven so impactful on the health of the skin, the so-called ‘beauty from within’ effect. The present study not only confirmed the total elasticity results from prior pilot studies, it extended these beneficial effects to the objective measures of skin hydration, firmness, net elasticity, and viscoelasticity, as well as the subjective measures of skin appearance, skin and hair texture, and skin and hair health overall. And, in females only, there were additional benefits for subjective measures of fingernail strength and growth rate,” the authors wrote. “Ovulux ESM appears to be a natural solution to help skin to resist the epidermal thickening, the dermal thinning, and the skin laxity and elastosis found in intrinsically aging skin.”

“Ovulux is the latest testament to our commitment to sustainability, science, and superior health outcomes. It is uniquely positioned to meet the growing consumer demand for collagen products that promote holistic wellness from the inside out. Ovulux is ideal for brands seeking to differentiate their products with a science-backed ingredient that resonates with consumers focused on skin vitality and healthy aging,” Stratum reported.