본 연구는 40-60대 중년여성의 피부노화에 효소식품과 콜라겐 섭취가 어떤 영향을 미치는지에 관한 연구이다. 연구 대상자들은 대조군12명, 콜라겐을 섭취하는 콜라겐군 12명 , 효소식품을 섭취하는 효소군12명, 효소식품과 콜라겐 복합으로 섭취하는 복합군 12명의 네 개의 그룹으로 나누고 각 군은 연령별로 40대 4명, 50대 4명 그리고 60대 4명씩 구성하였다. 연구 대상자들은 아침과 저녁에 대조군은 한천가루 3 g을, 콜라겐군은 콜라겐 3 g을, 효소군은 효소 3 g을, 복합군은 콜라겐 3 g과 효소 3 g씩 하루 6 g을 식사와 함께 12주 동안 섭취하도록 하였다. 식이제제 섭취 전과 후의 안면의 멜라닌, 홍반, 각질, 모공, 유분, 수분, pH, 명도, 적색도, 황색도, 주름 등을, 목 피부는 멜라닌, 홍반, 각질, 유분, 수분, pH, 명도, 적색도, 황색도 부분을 측정 비교하였다. 연구결과 안면피부의 경우 대조군은 멜라닌 7%, 홍반 9%, 모공 17% 유의적으로 증가하였으나 각질, 유분, 수분, pH, 명도, 적색도, 황색도, 주름은 유의적인 변화가 없었다. 콜라겐군은 멜라닌, 홍반, 각질, 모공, pH, 적색도, 황색도, 주름이 각각 11%, 11%, 53%, 10%, 7%, 22%, 15%, 22% 유의적으로 감소하였으며, 유분, 수분, 명도는 각각 15%, 11%, 16% 유의적으로 증가하였다. 효소군은 멜라닌, 홍반, 각질, 모공, pH, 적색도, 황색도, 주름이 각각 12%, 9%, 62%, 13%, 7%, 28%, 21%, 27% 유의적으로 감소하였으며, 유분, 수분, 명도는 각각 31%, 11%, 15% 유의적으로 증가하였다. 복합군은 멜라닌, 홍반, 각질, 모공, pH, 적색도, 황색도, 주름이 각각 14%, 14%, 70%, 16%, 10%, 32%, 24%, 28% 유의적으로 감소하였으며, 유분, 수분, 명도는 각각 34%, 15%, 18% 유의적 증가하였다. 안면피부는 특성상 다른 부위와 달리 자외선에 의한 광노화로 인한 처짐과 홍반 그리고 표정을 지을 때 쉽게 주름이 지는 부위이기 때문에 피부노화 측정결과가 대조군과 비교하여 현저한 차이가 나는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다.
목 피부의 경우 대조군은 멜라닌, 홍반, 각질, pH, 적색도, 황색도가 각각 8%, 13%, 10%, 45%, 2% 유의적으로 증가하였으며, 유분, 수분, 명도는 각각 7%, 5%, 8% 감소 유의적으로 감소하였다. 콜라겐군은 멜라닌, 홍반, 각질, pH, 적색도, 황색도가 각각 14%, 10%, 50%, 5%, 28%, 17% 유의적으로 감소하였고, 유분, 수분, 명도는 각각 11%, 8%, 17% 유의적으로 증가하였다. 효소군은 멜라닌, 홍반, 각질, pH, 적색도, 황색도가 각각 13%, 15%, 57%, 7%, 29%, 15% 유의적으로 감소하였고, 유분, 수분, 명도는 각각 9%, 9%, 16% 유의적으로 증가하였다. 복합군은 멜라닌, 홍반, 각질, pH, 적색도, 황색도가 각각 22%, 21%, 67%, 8%, 34%, 22% 유의적으로 감소하였고, 유분, 수분, 명도는 각각 14%, 10%, 23% 유의적으로 증가하였다. 이 연구를 통해 안면피부와 목 피부 모두 대조군에 비해 효소나 콜라겐 식이군이 효과가 좋았지만 효소나 콜라겐의 단독섭취보다는 복합섭취가 더 효과가 좋은 것으로 나타났다. 이런 결과를 도출하게 된 주된 이유는 피부의 신진대사를 돕고, 단백질소화와 생리적 기능을 향상시키는 효소의 기능이 콜라겐이 피부노화를 향상시킬 수 있게 유의적 도움을 주었기 때문이라 생각한다. 이와 같이 본 논문의 효소식품 함유 군들의 유의적인 결과들을 보면, 40-60대 중년 여성들도 이미 단백질 소화효소인 protease 계열의 분비가 전반적으로 많이 떨어진 것을 알 수 있다. 콜라겐 식이와 효소식품과의 복합식이가 더욱 효과적인 것도 이를 뒷받침한다. 따라서 단백질의 소화효소활성은 여성의 나이와 반비례적 관계가 상당히 깊어 보이는 것을 알 수 있다. 앞으로 노화에 따른 소화효소활성 저하와 피부 노화의 관계를 더 많은 사람들을 대상으로 임상이 이뤄지고 상관관계가 정확히 밝혀진다면, 나이에 따른 피부 노화를 어느 정도 억제하면서 더 건강한 삶을 살 수 있는 방법이 제시될 것으로 생각된다.

This study was done to explore an effect of enzyme food and collagen intake on the facial skin and neck skin of the middle-aged women in their 40s and 60s. They were divided in four groups such as control group (Cont, 12 persons), enzyme food intake group(E, 12 persons), collagen intake group(C, 12 persons) and combined intake group of enzyme food and collagen(EC, 12 persons). Each group was consisted of four persons in their 40s, 50s and 60s. The participators of this study were also advised to take 6 g of dietary supplements in a day. So, Cont group took 3g of agar powder, E group took 3g of enzyme food, C group took 3g of collagen and EC group took 3g of enzyme food and 3g of collagen together with a meal every morning and evening for 12 weeks. To measure and compare the facial skin and the neck skin before and after intake of enzyme food and collagen, melanin, erythema, keratin, pores, sebum, moisture, pH, brightness, redness, yellowness and wrinkle of the facial skin were done, whereas melanin, erythema, keratin, sebum, moisture, pH, brightness, redness and yellowness of the neck skin were performed. The result was as follows: regarding Cont group, facial skin of melanin, erythema and pores were increased by 7%, 9%, 17% but there was no meaningful effect on keratin, sebum, moisture, pH, brightness, redness, yellowness and wrinkle. About C group, melanin, erythema, keratin, pores, pH, redness, yellowness and wrinkle were decreased by 11%, 11%, 53%, 10%, 7%, 22%, 15%, 22% and sebum, moisture, brightness increased by 15%, 11%, 16%. Concerning E group, melanin, erythema, keratin, pores, pH, redness, yellowness and wrinkle were decreased by 12%, 9%, 62%, 13%, 7%, 28%, 21%, 27% and sebum, moisture, brightness were significantly increased by 31%, 11%, 15%. With regard to EC group, melanin, erythema, keratin, pores, pH, redness, yellowness and wrinkle were significantly decreased by 14%, 14%, 70%, 16%, 10%, 32%, 24%, 28% and sebum, moisture, brightness were significantly increased by 34%, 15%, 18%. The result showed that as facial wrinkle, skin sag and erythema caused by photo aging were rapidly accelerated, compared with other parts of the body, there were noticeable differences between Cont group and an enzyme food or a collagen intake group. On the other hand, referring to neck skin, melanin, erythema, keratin, pH, redness, yellowness of Cont group were significantly increased by 8%, 13%, 10%, 45%, 2% whereas sebum, moisture, brightness were significantly decreased by 7%, 5%, 8%. In case of C group, melanin, erythema, keratin, pH, redness, yellowness were decreased by 14%, 10%, 50%, 5%, 28%, 17% but sebum, moisture, brightness were increased by 11%, 8%, 17%. Regarding E group, melanin, erythema, keratin, pH, redness, yellowness were significantly decreased by 13%, 15%, 57%, 7%, 29%, 15% but sebum, moisture, brightness were significantly increased by 9%, 9%, 16%. As to EC group, melanin, erythema, keratin, pH, redness, yellowness were significantly decreased by 22%, 21%, 67%, 8%, 34%, 22% but sebum, moisture, brightness were significantly increased by 14%, 10%, 23%. To sum up, single intake group of enzyme food or collagen was significantly effective, compared with the control group, but the combined intake group of enzyme food and collagen was definitely most effective among four groups to improve skin aging. The main reason to draw this result in this study, I think, was that the functions of enzymes such as helping skin metabolism, improving protein digestion and physiological function enhanced collagen to improve skin aging. Thus, the significant result of containing enzyme food shows that secreting protein digestive enzyme protease of the middle-aged women in their 40s and 60s overall decreased largely. More effectiveness of the combined intake of enzyme food and collagen support this assertion. Therefore, we know that digestive enzyme activity of protein is in inverse proportion to women''s age deeply. If clinical trials of a connection between skin aging and the decline of digestive enzyme are conducted and expiscated precisely, I think the way to live a healthy life, preventing skin aging attributable to age somewhat, will be proposed.