Beneficial effects of oral supplementation with ferulic acid, a plant phenolic compound, on the human skin barrier in healthy men

Ferulic acid (FA) is a phytochemical compound with various physiologic functions. To clarify the effect of FA intake on skin barrier function (SBF), we conducted a placebo-controlled double-blind pilot trial. Sixteen healthy subjects were divided into 2 groups (n = 8) and ingested capsules containing either FA (200 mg) or placebo daily for 2 weeks. Two measures of SBF, transepidermal water loss and stratum corneum hydration, were assessed before and 2 weeks after the start of the study. Autonomic nervous activity, which is suggested to be related to SBF, was also measured. Compared with the values obtained before the start of the study, FA intake significantly reduced transepidermal water loss (from 6.1 ± 1.1 to 4.8 ± 1.0 g/m2/h, p = 0.005) and increased stratum corneum hydration (from 30.1 ± 7.6 to 32.3 ± 8.1 a.u., p = 0.027) after 2 weeks. In addition, the amount change in sympathetic nervous activity was significantly reduced after ingesting the FA capsules compared with the placebo capsules (-0.7 ± 1.6 vs. 1.1 ± 1.4, p = 0.035). These findings suggest that FA supplementation decreases sympathetic nervous activity and strengthens SBF in healthy men.