ANTI-AGEING 117
TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF SPECIFIC VITAMINS FOR LONGEVITY Vitamin
Primary Function Vitamin A
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin D (cholecalciferol)
Vitamin E (Tocopherols)
Vision, immune function, cell growth
Energy metabolism, nerve function
Energy production, cellular function
Energy metabolism, DNA repair
Hormone and cholesterol synthesis
Protein metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis
Fat and carbohydrate metabolism
DNA synthesis, cell division
Red blood cell formation, neurological function
Collagen synthesis, antioxidant, immune support
Calcium absorption, bone health, immune function
Antioxidant, protects cell membranes
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) Pantothenic acid forms the backbone of coenzyme A, which drives fatty acid synthesis and oxidation, acetyl-CoA production and steroidogenesis in skin. In keratinocytes and fibroblasts, an intact CoA pool supports membrane lipid renewal, barrier function and energy‑intensive repair, particularly under UV or pollution stress. D-panthenol, the provitamin form, is widely used in dermo-cosmetics for its ability to enhance stratum corneum hydration, support wound healing and reduce irritation, indirectly buffering metabolic and inflammatory stress that accelerates skin ageing.15
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) Vitamin B6 is a cofactor for more than 100 enzymes, including those in amino acid metabolism and cytokine synthesis, placing it at the interface of proteostasis and immune balance in skin. Deficiency is associated with systemic low‑grade inflammation and elevated homocysteine, both linked to accelerated ageing biology. In cutaneous tissues, adequate B6 helps
maintain proper collagen cross-linking, limits formation of advanced glycation end-products and supports balanced immune signalling, thereby addressing the hallmarks of chronic inflammation and loss of proteostasis that manifest as stiffness, dullness and delayed repair.16,17
www.personalcaremagazine.com Deficiency Symptoms
Night blindness, dry eyes, increased infections, dry skin
Fatigue, nerve damage, confusion, heart problems
Sore throat, cracked lips, inflamed tongue, skin disorders
Diarrhoea, dermatitis, dementia, inflamed mucous membranes
Fatigue, irritability, numbness, muscle cramps, metabolic dysfunction
Anaemia, depression, confusion, weakened immune system
Hair loss, skin rashes, brittle nails, neurological symptoms
Anaemia, fatigue, neural tube defects in pregnancy
Pernicious anaemia, fatigue, nerve damage, memory problems
Bleeding gums, poor wound healing, fatigue, joint pain. ECM, oxidative stress
Bone pain, muscle weakness and decline, increased fracture risk
Oxidative stress, membrane integrity loss, nerve damage, muscle weakness, vision problems
Deficiency Disease/Condition Xerophthalmia, keratomalacia
Beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Hallmark of Ageing Affected
Cellular senescence (immunosenescence), stem cell exhaustion
Mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of proteostasis
Ariboflavinosis oxidative stress Mitochondrial dysfunction Pellagra Rare; paraesthesia Peripheral neuropathy Rare; dermatitis, conjunctivitis Megaloblastic anaemia
Megaloblastic anaemia, neuropathy, neurodegeneration
Scurvy
Rickets (children), osteomalacia (adults), musculoskeletal decline
Rare; haemolytic anaemia in newborns
Vitamin B7 (biotin) Biotin acts as a cofactor for carboxylases involved in fatty acid synthesis and gluconeogenesis, directly influencing sebaceous activity, barrier lipids and keratin infrastructure. Clinically, biotin deficiency presents with dermatitis, hair loss and brittle nails, underlining its role in rapidly renewing integumentary tissues. At a mechanistic level, biotin also modulates
histone biotinylation, linking it to epigenetic control of gene expression; in skin this suggests a role in fine‑tuning keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation programmes important for long-term tissue resilience.18,19,20
Vitamin B9 (folate) Folate provides one-carbon units for DNA synthesis, repair and methylation, placing it squarely in the hallmarks of genomic instability, epigenetic alterations and telomere maintenance. In skin, high turnover rates make keratinocytes particularly vulnerable to folate disturbances, which can impair barrier renewal and enhance UV‑induced mutagenesis.21,22,23 Topical folate derivatives are emerging
in cosmetics aimed at supporting nucleotide pools and DNA repair in photo exposed areas, a strategy that aligns closely with preventing actinic damage and maintaining a more youthful, uniform epidermis over time.
Genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, NAD+ depletion
Mitochondrial dysfunction
Chronic inflammation, immunosenescence, loss of proteostasis
Mitochondrial dysfunction, epige- netic alterations
Genomic instability, epigenetic alterations, telomere attrition
Genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction
Chronic inflammation
Immunosenescence, chronic inflammation, stem cell exhaustion
Cellular senescence
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) Vitamin B12 works together with folate in one-carbon metabolism and with mitochondria in odd-chain fatty acid and amino acid catabolism, linking it simultaneously to DNA integrity and energy production. Deficiency increases homocysteine and oxidative stress, contributing to DNA strand breaks, mitochondrial dysfunction and neurogenic changes that can manifest cutaneously as hyperpigmentation and poor wound healing. Vitamin B12 is considered a methyl donor
because it is essential for transferring methyl groups in the methionine cycle, enabling the synthesis of S‑adenosylmethionine and supporting essential methylation reactions throughout the body. This function underpins its critical role in metabolism, epigenetic regulation, and overall health. By keeping methylation reactions and
mitochondrial flux on track, adequate B12 status supports keratinocyte proliferation, dermal matrix maintenance and neural regulation of cutaneous vasculature, all relevant to healthy-looking ageing skin.24, 25, 26
Vitamin D (cholecalciferol/1,25-(OH)2
D3 )
Vitamin D, via the vitamin D receptor (VDR), orchestrates antioxidant defences, barrier function and immune homeostasis in skin, acting
April 2026 PERSONAL CARE MAGAZINE
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