Can a heat-treated probiotic strain improve your skin from the inside out? New clinical evidence suggests yes.
A newly published clinical study has found that the postbiotic strain Latilactobacillus sakei KABP®‑065, developed by AB‑BIOTICS, can help support skin elasticity and hydration in healthy women aged 30 to 50. The results further strengthen the growing interest in beauty from within solutions.
The trial, now available in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, explored the effects of daily oral supplementation with heat‑treated L. sakei KABP®‑065 in women with self‑perceived dry skin. Over the course of the study, participants receiving the postbiotic experienced meaningful improvements in several markers of skin health.
In this randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study, 50 healthy middle‑aged women took either heat‑inactivated L. sakei KABP® 065 (1×10¹⁰ cells/day) or a placebo for eight weeks. Skin elasticity, firmness, hydration and barrier function were evaluated at baseline, week 5 and week 8 using validated dermatological measurements.
The study stands out because it is the first to evaluate this strain in healthy individuals. Previous research on this ingredient has focused on atopic dermatitis and immune‑related responses, so this new evidence expands its potential applications into everyday skin wellness.
Key Skin Benefits of the Postbiotic L. sakei KABP® 065
Enhanced Skin Elasticity and Firmness
After five weeks, women taking the postbiotic showed noticeably greater improvements in facial skin elasticity and firmness compared to their own baseline measurements. These effects were not mirrored in the placebo group.
Targeted Benefits for Women in Their 40s
A subgroup analysis showed that participants aged 40–49 experienced the most pronounced changes. They saw improvements across all elasticity measures, including skin recovery rate, net elasticity and firmness. Improvements in recovery rate and firmness also persisted in week 8.
Improved Skin Hydration in Middle‑Aged Women
This same group also demonstrated higher skin moisture levels after five weeks of supplementation, with a similar trend continuing in week 8.
A Postbiotic Designed for Stable, Effective Skin‑Health Applications
Since L. sakei KABP®‑065 is heat‑treated, it offers stability advantages that simplify product development. From supplements to functional beauty formats, this strain is well suited for a broad range of applications.
Expert highlights about Latilactobacillus sakei KABP® 065 postbiotic for skin health
Beyond the measurable improvements observed in the study, experts from Kaneka Probiotics and AB‑BIOTICS emphasized how these findings reinforce the strain’s growing scientific story.
Jordi Riera, Chief Business Officer at Kaneka Probiotics, explained:
“These results build on previous research showing the strain’s role in supporting skin through the gut-immune-skin axis. In healthy individuals, effects are expected to be more subtle, which makes the significant improvements in skin elasticity and moisture all the more encouraging.”
Adding to this perspective, Dr. Jordi Espadaler‑Mazo, Scientific Director at AB‑BIOTICS, highlighted:
“As a heat-treated postbiotic, L. sakei KABP®-065 offers both stability and scientific credibility for skin-health applications — making it a strong candidate for beauty-from-within innovation. These results are promising, and we look forward to continuing to explore its role in healthy skin aging through future, larger studies.”
This shared insight reflects the growing momentum behind postbiotics as safe, stable, and science‑backed ingredients capable of delivering meaningful beauty from within benefits.
Beyond Nutricosmetics: Exploring Topical Applications
These findings position L. sakei KABP® 065 as a promising postbiotic for supporting skin elasticity, hydration, and overall skin wellness in healthy adults. While the ingredient’s oral form offers a unique advantage as a nutricosmetic — acting through the gut-immune-skin axis — our research does not stop there.
AB-BIOTICS has also been developing and testing several topical cream formats enriched with L. sakei postbiotic, bringing this scientifically validated ingredient directly to the skin’s surface. We are actively investigating the benefits of these formulations through ongoing clinical trials, with the goal of expanding the evidence base for this strain across multiple delivery formats.
Whether taken orally or applied topically, L. sakei KABP® 065 represents a new generation of postbiotic-powered solutions for healthy skin aging. Stay tuned for further results as our research continues to evolve.