03/07/09 A recently completed research study indicates that consuming Glanbia Nutritionals’ proprietary enriched flax ingredient increases the lustre, shine and overall condition of human hair. The ingredient was featured in a beauty-from-within nutritional bar developed by Glanbia’s R&D group.

The IRB approved study involved 33 female participants aged between 45 and 55, each of whom consumed 16g of enriched flax per day in nutrition bars over a 4 week period. Hair attribute measurements were completed by professional, licensed research cosmetologists at 0, 2, and 4 week intervals. Softness, smooth feel, lustre, shine, dryness, oiliness, ease of combing and ease of brushing were all measured.

Softness significantly improved at the 2 and 4 week periods. Participants indicated softness and smoothness were more appealing to them at both the 2 week and 4 week periods.

Lustre and shine were also significantly improved over the 4 week period. Participants indicated lustre and shine were more appealing at the end of the time period. Oiliness was significantly reduced at both the 2 week and 4 week period, without increased dryness. Ease of brushing and combing both improved over the 4 week period.

“Anecdotally, flax has been viewed for years as favourable towards hair quality,” said Kevin Thomson, director of business development – emerging applications at Glanbia Nutritionals. “Through our expertise in targeted development and ingredient processing, we’ve developed a proprietary enriched flax ingredient specifically for hair improvement that has proven effective across several criteria in a beauty-from-within bar.”

Funding for the study was provided by the Flax Council of Canada. Bars were provided by Glanbia Nutritionals.