What is keratin?
Keratin is a structural protein which is one of the major components of our hair, nails and skin. It contributes to the solidity of these tissues and has a protective function by acting as a barrier against dehydration and the entry of chemical aggressors. Synthesised by our body's keratinocytes, keratin plays an essential role in skin regeneration, as well as in the beauty and strength of our hair and nails.
It is a large protein made up of long chains of amino acids assembled into helices and then into more complex structures forming fibres. It is made up of 18 different amino acids, the main ones being glutamic acid, glycine, serine, methionine and cysteine, a sulphur-containing amino acid that is particularly important for the formation of "disulphide bridges", the links that form between different cysteine blocks in the protein and ensure that its shape is maintained. These disulphide bridges play a crucial role in maintaining the structure of keratin, and therefore in the beauty, strength and resilience of hair.
How does the keratin food supplement work?
In its native state, the keratin in our hair or in sheep's wool cannot be assimilated by the body, hence the importance of hydrolysis, which breaks down this large molecule into small pieces called peptides (small assemblies of amino acids), which are much better digested by the body. The quality of hydrolysis will determine the type and size of peptides obtained and their bioavailability, i.e. the proportion of these active ingredients that can pass into the systemic circulation to benefit the body.
The patented hydrolysis process for Cynatine® HNS has been specifically developed to ensure optimal bioavailability of the amino acids, i.e. that our bodies are able to assimilate and use them. Sheep's wool, like the keratin in our hair, is rich in cystine, a dipeptide made up of 2 cysteine amino acids linked by a disulphide bridge. The form in which this cystine occurs naturally in wool is not easily assimilated by the body, but hydrolysis produces cysteine in the form of easily assimilated tripeptides, with methionine and serine, amino acids that are important for the cohesion of keratin. The change in the amino acid composition of the hair observed during the treatment reflects the good bioavailability of these amino acids. In particular, there was an increase in the level of cystine, a dipeptide made up of 2 cysteine amino acids linked by a disulphide bridge.
The Cynatine® HNS aminogram shows an amino acid profile very similar to that of hair keratin, so this active ingredient provides the hair bulb with the 'building blocks' essential for keratin formation.
This dietary supplement can therefore help our body's keratinocytes to produce quality keratin, whether for hair, skin or nails.
