Oral Yak Whey Protein Can Alleviate UV-Induced Skin Photoaging and Modulate Gut Microbiota Composition

Excessive UV exposure can lead to skin roughness, wrinkles, pigmentation, and reduced elasticity, with severe cases potentially causing skin cancer. Nowadays, various anti-photoaging strategies have been developed to maintain skin health. Among them, dietary supplements with anti-photoaging properties are gaining increasing attention. Yak whey protein (YWP) possesses multiple benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-boosting properties, effectively protecting the skin. This study used a mixed UVA and UVB light source to irradiate a nude mouse model, exploring the advantages of YWP in anti-photoaging and regulating gut microbiota. The results indicated that YWP alleviated UV-induced skin damage, wrinkles, dryness, and reduced elasticity by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammatory factors (IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-12), thereby increasing the levels of elastin, type I collagen, and type III collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Additionally, YWP significantly improved the abundance of <i>Firmicutes</i> and <i>Bacteroidota</i> in the gut microbiota of mice, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria such as <i>Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group</i>, <i>Ruminococcus_torques_group</i>, and <i>Clostridia_UCG_014</i>, mitigating the dysbiosis caused by photoaging. These findings underscore the potential of YWP in anti-photoaging and gut microbiota improvement, highlighting it as a promising functional food for enhancing skin and gut health.