I am not aware of any research about DMAE supplementation for improving skin quality.
There is however a recent study looking at the use of DMAE topically,
The role of dimethylaminoethanol in cosmetic dermatology.
Grossman R.
Johnson and Johnson Consumer Products Worldwide, Skillman, NJ 08558, USA.
Skincare formulations for the improvement of aging skin are increasingly important consumer products. Here, we review available data on one such agent - 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) or deanol - that has recently been evaluated in a placebo-controlled trial. DMAE is an analog of the B vitamin choline and is a precursor of acetylcholine. Although the role of acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter is well known, growing evidence points to acetylcholine as a ubiquitous cytokine-like molecule that regulates basic cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, locomotion, and secretion in a paracrine and autocrine fashion. Indeed, this modulatory role may contribute to the cutaneous activity of DMAE.In a randomized clinical study, 3% DMAE facial gel applied daily for 16 weeks has been shown to be safe and efficacious (p < 0.05) in the mitigation of forehead lines and periorbital fine wrinkles, and in improving lip shape and fullness and the overall appearance of aging skin. These effects did not regress during a 2-week cessation of application. Beneficial trends (p > 0.05 but The acute skin-firming effects of DMAE have been confirmed by quantitative measures of cutaneous tensile strength. In vitro studies in peripheral blood lymphocytes indicate that DMAE is a moderately active anti-inflammatory agent. Although its mechanisms of action in the skin remain to be elucidated, evidence suggests that the skin is an active site of acetylcholine synthesis, storage, secretion, metabolism, and receptivity. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors have been localized to keratinocytes, melanocytes and dermal fibroblasts, whereas nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have been found in keratinocytes. The role of acetylcholine and the role of DMAE as a modulator of acetylcholine-mediated functions in the skin remain to be elucidated.Thus, the benefits of DMAE in dermatology include a potential anti-inflammatory effect and a documented increase in skin firmness with possible improvement in underlying facial muscle tone. Studies are needed to evaluate the relative efficacy of DMAE compared with other skin-care regimens (e.g., topical antioxidant creams, alpha-hydroxy acids).
Publication Types:
* Review
PMID: 15675889 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
NOTE: the above research was conducted by Johnson and Johnson. If you search the Johnson & Johnson website you will find that they sell DMAE products.There is a great free online paper about Nutritional skin care
here.
If you don't want to read the paper then here is the abstract
Nutritional skin care: health effects of micronutrients and fatty acids.
Boelsma E, Hendriks HF, Roza L.
TNO Nutrition and Food Research, the Department of Nutritional Physiology, Zeist, Netherlands. boelsma@voeding.tno.nl
Human skin is continuously exposed to internal and external influences that may alter its condition and functioning. As a consequence, the skin may undergo alterations leading to photoaging, inflammation, immune dysfunction, imbalanced epidermal homeostasis, or other skin disorders. Modern nutritional science is developing new insights into the relation between food intake and health, and effects of food ingredients may prove to be biologically relevant for optimal skin condition. The objective of this review was to evaluate the present knowledge about the interrelation of nutrients and skin, particularly the photoprotective effects of nutrients, the influences of nutrients on cutaneous immune responses, and therapeutic actions of nutrients in skin disorders. The nutrients of focus were vitamins, carotenoids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Supplementation with these nutrients was shown to provide protection against ultraviolet light, although the sun-protection factor was relatively small compared with that of topical sunscreens. An increase in delayed-type hypersensitivity skin responses after supplementation with nutrients has proven beneficial, especially in elderly people, and may boost cell-mediated immunity. Dietary consumption of certain plants or fish oil is known to modulate the balance of lipid inflammatory mediators and, therefore, is valuable in the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders. It was concluded that nutritional factors exert promising actions on the skin, but information on the effects of low-to-moderate doses of nutrients consumed long term by healthy individuals is obviously lacking, as are data on direct effects on basal skin properties, including hydration, sebum production, and elasticity.
Publication Types:
* Review
PMID: 11333837 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
If you are interested in improving/preserving the elasticity of the skin then I would be looking at anti-glycation products
Quote from
here.
Glycation is a slow, nonenzymatic reaction that takes place between free amino groups in proteins primarily from lysine and a reducing sugar such as glucose or ribose. In skin, this reaction creates new residues or formations of cross-links (advanced glycation end products, AGEs) in the extracellular matrix of the dermis. The formation of these bridges between dermal molecules is supposed to be responsible for loss of elasticity or other properties of the dermis observed during aging.
Additionally
The Maillard reaction inhibitors and their biological and therapeutic significance.
Sztanke K, Pasternak K.
Department of Synthesis and Technology of Drugs, Medical University of Lublin.
The formation of AGE crosslinks as a result of the Maillard reaction is reduced by several drugs (aminoguanidine, OPB-9195, tenilsetam, aspirin), substances of natural origin (carnosine, homocarnosine) and antioxidants. These compounds are the Maillard reaction inhibitors, but do not seem to break AGE-derived protein crosslinks, which have already formed and therefore will not be effective in patients with a long history of the disease. The first in a new class of compounds that have been shown the ability to chemically reverse the Maillard reaction is PTB. This compound breaks the carbon-carbon bond between two carbonyls of glucose-derived protein crosslinks.
Publication Types:
* Review
PMID: 15323184 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
So in summary, currently I don't think is any research supporting the use of DMAE supplementation for improving skin quality. Perhaps more research needs to be done.
For now, I would focus on other areas to improve/preserve the quality of your skin. The number one thing that I would be doing is using SPF 30+ sunscreen.
I hope this has helped somewhat
)
