Lactobionic Acid

Introduction

What is lactobionic acid?

Lactobionic acid is an aldonic acid composed of a gluconic acid bonded to a galactose (R). It is also often referred to as a polyhydroxy bionic acid due to its multiple hydroxyl groups.

Lactobionic acid is derived from the oxidation of lactose, the main milk sugar (R), and it has also been detected in yogurt (R). It is produced industrially through the use of microbes or via a biocatalytic approach (R), and has many applications in food, pharmaceuticals, medicine and cosmetics (R, R).

Does lactobionic acid get absorbed?

Lactobionic acid has a molar mass of 358 daltons and is a larger molecule than traditional alpha hydroxy acids. It has been asserted that lactobionic acid is still small enough to penetrate the skin (R), but we were not able to find any published studies with permeation data.

Efficacy

Show 8 more outcomes
Outcome	Grade	Effect	Evidence	Studies
Skin Hydration	A	🠩 Slight	★★★★ Good	3 studies 122 participants
Skin Thickness	C	🠩 Slight	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Skin Smoothness	C	⇧ Potential	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Wrinkles	C	⇩ Potential	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Skin Firmness	C	⇧ Potential	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Fine Lines	C	⇩ Potential	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Facial Pores	C	⇩ Potential	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Skin Elasticity	C	⇧ Potential	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Hyperpigmentation	C	⇩ Potential	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Skin Brightness	C	⇧ Potential	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Skin Redness	E	– No Effect	★★★★ Good	3 studies 122 participants
Skin Barrier Function	E	– No Effect	★★★★ Good	3 studies 91 participants
Skin pH	E	– No Effect	★★★★ Good	3 studies 66 participants

Mechanisms

Outcome	Grade	Effect	Evidence	Studies
Melanin	A	🠫🠫 Notable	★★★★ Good	1 study 25 participants
Glycosaminoglycans	C	🠩 Slight	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Collagenase	C	🠫 Slight	★★ Some	1 study 31 participants
Glycation	D	🠫 Slight	★ Basic	1 study
Cell Viability	E	– No Effect	★ Basic	1 study

Latest Research

Lactobionic Acid

What is lactobionic acid?

Does lactobionic acid get absorbed?

A 10% Lactobionic acid-containing moisturizer reduces skin surface pH without irritation-An in vivo/in vitro study (2019)

Antiaging bionic and polyhydroxy acids reduce nonenzymatic protein glycation and skin sallowness (2014)

Lactobionic acid in a natural alkylpolyglucoside-based vehicle: assessing safety and efficacy aspects in comparison to glycolic acid (2010)

Acute acidification of stratum corneum membrane domains using polyhydroxyl acids improves lipid processing and inhibits degradation of corneodesmosomes (2010)

Clinical and cosmeceutical uses of hydroxyacids (2009)