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Imaging and Microorganism Analyses of the Effects of Oral Bifidobacterium breve Intake on Facial Skin in Females: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

  • 2025-09-17
  • Nutrients 17(18)
    • Yuriko Nishikawa
    • Chendong Xu
    • Shin Yoshimoto
    • Noriko Katsumata
    • Noriyuki Iwabuchi
    • Naotake Yanagisawa
    • Shigeo Koido
    • Miyuki Tanaka
    • Jin-Zhong Xiao
    • Daisuke Asaoka
    • Toshifumi Ohkusa
    • Nobuhiro Sato

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 120
Population
120 females aged 30-79 years
Methods
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study; B. breve (1 × 10^10 CFU/sachet, two sachets daily) or placebo for 12 weeks
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
12 weeks
Funding
Unclear
  • Large Human Trial
  • Rigorous Journal

Background

Oral probiotic intake is suggested to have positive effects on skin. We aimed to elucidate the effects of oral Bifidobacterium breve M-16V intake on skin by analyzing facial images, the skin myco/microbiota, and the gut microbiota.

Methods

We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in Japan. Healthy women aged over 30 years were randomly allocated to either the B. breve (1 × 1010 colony-forming units (CFU)/sachet, two sachets daily) or the placebo group and consumed the corresponding study food for 12 weeks. Facial images were taken at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 using VISIA evolution. Stool and skin samples were collected at weeks 0 and 12. The primary outcome was the change in the total VISIA score from baseline.

Results

A total of 120 females aged 30-79 years were assigned to the B. breve (n = 59) or placebo (n = 61) group. The total VISIA score worsened in the placebo group at week 8 (p = 0.029) but not in the B. breve group. Compared with that of the placebo group, the VISIA brown spot score of the B. breve group improved at weeks 4 (p = 0.013) and 8 (p = 0.041). The VISIA pore score improved at weeks 4 (p = 0.013), 8 (p = 0.041), and 12 (p = 0.004) within the B. breve group. Genus-level analysis of the gut microbiota revealed a significant increase in Blautia abundance in the B. breve group. The frequency of adverse events was not different between the groups.

Conclusions

Oral B. breve M-16V administration may suppress skin deterioration, including the appearance of brown spots, on the faces of adult females.

Research Insights

Adverse Events Reported

  • Bifidobacterium breve M-16V→Overall tolerability

    The frequency of adverse events was not different between the groups.

    Finding
    No significant difference
    Significant
    No
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