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Effects of diacylglycerol-enriched alpha-linolenic acid oil on skin properties in mild skin discomfort: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
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  • Published: 06 January 2026

Effects of diacylglycerol-enriched alpha-linolenic acid oil on skin properties in mild skin discomfort: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

  • Satoko Fukagawa1,2,
  • Yoshie Shimotoyodome1,
  • Keimon Sayama2,3,
  • Aya Sasaki1,
  • Katsuyoshi Saito1,
  • Hiroki Fujita3,
  • Yuki Shimizu1,
  • Koichi Misawa1,
  • Shinichiro Saito1,
  • Junko Ishikawa2,3,
  • Noriyasu Ota3,
  • Takehiko Yokomizo2 &
  • …
  • Masanobu Hibi1 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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Subjects

  • Allergy
  • Disease prevention

Abstract

Skin barrier function impairment and inflammation promote allergen invasion through the skin, leading to sensitization and exacerbation of allergic diseases. Intake of linseed oil, an oil rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), suppresses inflammation and allergic symptoms. To our knowledge, the effects of diacylglycerol-enriched ALA (ALA-DAG) oil intake on skin properties and allergic symptoms have not been evaluated. We performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of 60 individuals aged 20–59 years with mild skin discomfort, including dryness, itching, and redness, to investigate the effects of ALA-DAG intake on skin and allergic symptoms. Participants were divided into two groups treated with either 2.5 g/day of ALA-DAG or placebo oil for 8 weeks. The skin properties were measured at baseline and at 8 weeks. Allergic symptoms were measured at 4 and 8 weeks. Compared with placebo oil intake, ALA-DAG intake increased skin hydration in the cheek, reduced nasal congestion and nose itchiness, and decreased mite-specific immunoglobulin E in the blood. Subgroup analysis showed that participants who were positive for mite allergen sensitization had reduced facial redness after ingesting ALA-DAG. These findings suggest that ALA-DAG intake improves skin properties and alleviates allergic symptoms.

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Data availability

The dataset from which the current study is not available to public for confidentiality reason, since the participants in this study agreed to use the data only for the analysis of present study when the study was informed and would not be shared with third parties, but is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ms. Mamiko Kikuchi at Skin Care Research, Kao Corporation, for advice on skin color assessment techniques; Dr. Yasutoshi Ando at Human Health Care Products Research, Kao Corporation, for technical advice for blood lipid analysis; and Dr. Kazuya Kouzuma and Dr. Toru Yamaguchi at Human Health Care Products Research for appropriate advice on subject eligibility and statistical analysis. We also thank SciTechEdit International for English language editing.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Health Care Products Research, Kao Corporation, Bunka 2-1-3, Sumida, Tokyo, 131-8501, Japan

    Satoko Fukagawa, Yoshie Shimotoyodome, Aya Sasaki, Katsuyoshi Saito, Yuki Shimizu, Koichi Misawa, Shinichiro Saito & Masanobu Hibi

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Hongo 2-1-1, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan

    Satoko Fukagawa, Keimon Sayama, Junko Ishikawa & Takehiko Yokomizo

  3. Biological Science Research, Kao Corporation, Akabane 2606, Ichikai-Machi, Haga-Gun, Tochigi, 321-3497, Japan

    Keimon Sayama, Hiroki Fujita, Junko Ishikawa & Noriyasu Ota

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Contributions

Conceptualization: SF, KeS, KaS, and JI; Data curation: SF, YoS, KeS, AS, HF, and YuS; Formal analysis: SF, YoS, KeS, AS, HF, and YuS; Investigation: SF, YoS, KeS, AS, KaS, HF, and YuS; Methodology: SF, YoS, KeS, AS, KaS, KM, and JI; Resources: AS, and KaS; Supervision: NO and TY; Visualization: SF, and MH; Writing—original draft: SF and HM; Writing—review & editing: KM, SS, JI, and TY.

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Correspondence to Satoko Fukagawa.

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Fukagawa, S., Shimotoyodome, Y., Sayama, K. et al. Effects of diacylglycerol-enriched alpha-linolenic acid oil on skin properties in mild skin discomfort: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34887-3

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  • Received: 03 March 2025

  • Accepted: 31 December 2025

  • Published: 06 January 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34887-3

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Keywords

  • Alpha-linolenic acid
  • Diacylglycerol-enriched alpha-linolenic acid oil
  • IgE
  • Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
  • Skin surface lipid RNA
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