Page 53 - FoodFocusThailand No.244 August 2026

STRA
STRATEGIC R & DTEGIC R & D

GUT–SKIN AXIS:

HEALTHY SKIN BEGINS IN THE GUT WITH

THE POWER OF POSTBIOTICS

“Beauty from Within” is emerging as one of the fastest-growing trends in nutricosmetics industry. According
to Future Market Insights, the market for ingredients in this category surpassed USD 4.2 billion in 2025 and
is projected to reach USD 8.4 billion by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%.
This is a long-term growth segment, not a passing fad. Behind this growth lies a mechanism known as the
Gut-Skin Axis — the connection between the gut and the skin — which is turning functional foods into
tools for restoring skin health from within, powered by nutrients from the “biotics” family.

From Gut to Skin: A Closer Look at the “Biotics” Family
A Four-Step Communication Pathway and a Key Industry Turning Point
1. A balanced gut microbiome ferments dietary fiber Postbiotics are emerging as a fast-growing fourth category
into beneficial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids within the biotics family. According to ISAPP (2021), postbiotics
(SCFAs). are defined as “a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/
2. These compounds are absorbed into the bloodstream, or their components that confers a health benefit on the host.”
where they interact with the immune system. Unlike probiotics, postbiotics do not rely on live microorganisms,
3. The immune system is then brought into balance, helping to overcome key challenges related to microbial viability
triggering anti-inflammatory compounds and keeping during processing. This also makes them more robust, with
excessive inflammation in check. improved heat stability and formulation flexibility, opening
4. These signals reach the skin, helping strengthen up opportunities across a wide range of food and beverage
its protective barrier, regulate cell turnover, and retain applications—from ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages and jellies
moisture. The result is sustainably smoother, healthier- to functional snacks. In essence, postbiotics consist of inanimate
looking skin — one that begins with gut balance rather than microbial cells and their structural components, and may also
topical creams. include bioactive compounds formed during fermentation such
as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), exopolysaccharides (EPS),
Cellular Research and Clinical Evidence antimicrobial substances, and certain enzymes and vitamins.
The evidence is consistent, from cellular studies to human
trials. A review by Millman et al. (2024) found that biotics can Notable Ingredient Innovations
slow skin aging by helping balance both the gut microbiome Today’s biotechnology has advanced toward producing highly
and the immune system. A separate review by Woo and targeted ingredients — both direct biotics and ingredients that
Kim (2024) compiled animal studies showing that orally work alongside the Gut-Skin Axis mechanism.
administered Bifidobacterium breve Yakult probiotics helped • Precision Probiotics / Precision Postbiotics mark a
protect hairless mice from UV-induced skin damage. shift from broad-spectrum use to DNA-level selection of specific
Most notably, the human studies gathered by Woo and strains or secretions, tested for binding to gut receptors and
Kim found that 110 volunteers aged 41–59 who consumed directly blocking skin-aging signals — giving brands a more
L. plantarum HY7714 for 12 consecutive weeks showed a precise, credible basis for their claims.
clear reduction in fine wrinkles and improved skin elasticity • Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are natural polymers produced
compared with a control group. Meanwhile, 600 Japanese by beneficial microorganisms, capable of retaining moisture in
female volunteers who took synbiotics for four weeks showed the skin at a level comparable to hyaluronic acid. As a naturally
significantly improved skin hydration.
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