Vol. 5, n. 1, January-March 2009 1th International ... - Salute per tutti

field, to prevent the effects of radiations and
e n v i ronmental toxicity on several biological
p rocesses involved in the skin aging and canc
e r 4 1 . The use of compounds which pre v e n t
damages from UV radiations or other types of
pollutants is intended also for the anti-aging
e ffects. In the latter case, the supplementation
with natural substances assumes a cosmetic significance,
that means to ameliorate the skin
aspect, and for these formulations is used the
term cosmeceuticals 4 2 . This has contributed to
d i ffuse the concept of cosmetic effect obtained
by an inside-out approach, there f o re combining
the application or topical treatment with the cosmeceutical
supplementation. These dire c t i o n s
have been rapidly transferred to the market, also
to answer to a growing demand in the cosmetic
sector and alternative medicine on the whole.
This development has been so strong to induce
also scepticism and criticism that there is not a
solid scientific base behind the overw h e l m i n g
number of formulations on the market.
The scientific answer must satisfy at least two
issues: i) to have objective assays to figure out the
e fficacy of a treatment and monitor the occurrence
of changes, ii) to individuate scientifically
validated protocols in order to design new formulations.
Based on these issues re s e a rchers of
life science disciplines can provide a strong collaboration
with the related companies, to bring
innovation and give the necessary validations 4 3 .
In particular, the molecular approach given by
the “- o m i c” disciplines can become the driving
f o rce of a productive system based on the science
knowledge and devoted to the product development
in health care. The pathway indicated by
the lipidomic approach can be inserted in the
p roductive system of the nutraceutical companies,
a market which is overc rowded by pro d u c t s
among whom the consumers and the medical
doctors have serious difficulties to orient themselves.
As a matter of fact, using the lipidomic
data, the nutraceutical strategy can be chosen to
t a rget the needs and have controlled re s u l t s ,
t h e re f o re nutraceuticals can become a tool for
personalization of the therapy, graduated according
to the individual condition.
C onclusions
T h rough the example of lipidomics it
has been confirmed that the multidisciplinary
o v e rview must permeate in life sciences. The
Cell membrane lipidomics: a tool for the nutritional/nutraceutical strategy in dermatology
basis of chemical reactivity are combined with
biology and medicine in order to aff o rd a tool for
understanding a complex phenomenon, which is
at the ground of health conditions, in particular
as far as dermatological affections are concerned.
Using the innovative dimension of lipidomics,
the Physician, as well as other health care operators,
will find a tool which allows to bring
together molecular basis with clinical observation
of the patients, for a personalized and efficient
strategy of metabolic balance through
nutrition and nutraceuticals.
A cknowledgement
Carla Ferre r i wishes to thank D r.
Chryssostomos Chatgilialoglu for his continuous
encouragement and longstanding collaboration.
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Journal of Plastic Dermatology 2009; 5, 1
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