Phytoceramides
Plant glucosylceramides
Plant ceramides studied for skin hydration and barrier
Preliminary evidence
✨Joint & Skin
Evidence tier
Preliminary
Research weight
Citations
17 verified / 17
Classification
Joint & Skin
❝
What the evidence says. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive.
What is Phytoceramides?
Phytoceramides (Plant glucosylceramides) is a joint and skin supplement used for may raise stratum corneum water content. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Preliminary. Ceramides are sphingolipids that form a major part of the skin's barrier (stratum corneum), where they help retain water. Phytoceramides are plant-derived glucosylceramides (konjac, rice, wheat) taken orally on the premise that dietary sphingolipids support endogenous barrier lipids. Small placebo-controlled trials report increased hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss; a 2022 meta-analysis (7 trials, n=426) found a significant improvement in stratum-corneum water content and reduced TEWL. The evidence remains preliminary — trials are small, heterogeneous, and frequently manufacturer-conducted. Wheat-derived versions warrant caution for anyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Purported Benefits
✓May raise stratum corneum water content
✓May reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
✓Supports barrier-lipid replenishment
✓Studied for dry, rough, aging skin
Evidence by outcome
The same supplement can be well-proven for one use and unproven for another — here is the human evidence graded outcome by outcome.
| Outcome | Evidence | Effect | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increased stratum corneum hydration2022 meta-analysis and several RCTs significant, but small, heterogeneous, often manufacturer-run. | Preliminary | ↑ benefit · small | 4 |
| Reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL)Consistent TEWL reduction across meta-analysis and multiple RCTs; effect size modest. | Moderate | ↑ benefit · small | 5 |
| Improved skin elasticity & wrinklesMilk- and wheat-ceramide RCTs improved elasticity/wrinkles; benefits not maintained after stopping. | Preliminary | ↑ benefit · small | 2 |
| Skin protection against dehydration (regulatory)EFSA judged human evidence insufficient to establish a cause-and-effect skin-hydration claim. | Mixed | — no effect · negligible | 1 |
Dosing & Compounds
Typical Dose
~1.8–40 mg/day glucosylceramides (source-dependent).
Active Compounds
Safety & Cautions
Well tolerated in short trials at low doses, with no serious adverse events reported; evidence is preliminary and many studies are small and industry-funded. Wheat-derived phytoceramides can contain gluten — avoid with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity (rice/konjac versions are alternatives). Long-term safety is uncharacterized; consult a clinician in pregnancy/lactation. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Phytoceramides with any medicine.
Key Studies ★ 17 studies
systematic review/meta-analysis
Ng 2025 (systematic review & meta-analysis)
✓ Full text
Systematic review/meta-analysis of dietary skin-ageing interventions found the 'lipids and fatty acids' class (including rice ceramides and yeast glucosylceramides) significantly improved skin hydration (pooled SMD 0.54, p=4.4e-5) and elasticity (SMD 0.49, p=5.5e-3).
Meta-analysis
Choi 2022 (meta-analysis)
✓ Full text
Meta-analysis of oral ceramides (7 RCTs, n=426) showed increased stratum-corneum hydration (SMD 0.40, p=0.03) and reduced TEWL (SMD −0.29, p=0.003); heterogeneity was high.
Meta-analysis
Sun (Front Nutr) 2022
✓ PubMed
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 66 RCTs of oral skin-moisturizing supplements found that oral ceramide (alongside collagen) produced a statistically significant increase in skin hydration and a significant decrease in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) versus placebo; all supplements were safe over study durations of up to 24 weeks.
RCT
Kawai 2024 (RCT)
✓ Full text
RCT in 30 adults with dry skin; 100 mg/day wine-lees ceramides for 12 weeks reduced TEWL vs placebo (p=0.04), though hydration did not differ. (Manufacturer-authored.)
randomized controlled trial
Ahn 2024 (RCT)
✓ Full text
12-week double-blind RCT in women aged 30-65 with crow's feet; oral milk ceramides (600 mg/day) significantly lowered TEWL and raised skin moisture and elasticity vs placebo, with improved periocular wrinkle and roughness indices and no serious adverse events.
RCT
Kern 2024 (RCT)
✓ PubMed
Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial in 72 women with dry, aging skin; a wheat polar lipid complex (oil or powder) increased skin hydration and elasticity and decreased TEWL, roughness and wrinkle depth from day 14 through day 56, but benefits were not maintained after stopping. (Manufacturer-authored, Seppic.)
RCT
Hashimoto 2024 (Nutrients)
✓ Full text
In a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 30 healthy Japanese adults, oral wine lees extract-derived ceramides and glucosylceramides significantly lowered transepidermal water loss versus placebo (p=0.04), though secondary skin parameters did not differ.
RCT
Sanjaya (wine lees extract ceramides/glucosylceramides RCT) 2024
✓ PubMed
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 29 healthy Japanese adults: 12 weeks of oral plant-derived ceramides + glucosylceramides significantly lowered TEWL versus placebo (p=0.04; trend at 8 weeks p=0.07), with no supplement-related adverse events; secondary outcomes (hydration, itch VAS, Skindex-29) did not differ.
regulatory/guideline
EFSA NDA Panel 2012 (health-claim opinion)
✓ Full text
EFSA's Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies concluded that a cause-and-effect relationship was NOT established between consumption of Wheat Polar Lipid Extract (containing glucosylceramides/ceramides) and protection of the skin against dehydration, judging the submitted human evidence insufficient.
RCT
Heggar Venkataramana (Amorphophallus konjac glycosylceramide RCT) 2020
✓ PubMed
Placebo-controlled trial in 51 healthy adults given 100 mg/day konjac extract (5 mg plant glycosylceramides) for 6 weeks: oral intake significantly reduced skin dryness, hyperpigmentation, redness, itching and oiliness (p<0.05) in a time-dependent manner, with no adverse events.
RCT
Guillou 2011 (RCT)
✓ PubMed
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 51 women aged 20-63 with dry skin; 350 mg/day wheat extract oil capsules for 3 months significantly increased skin hydration on the arms (p<0.001) and legs (p=0.012) vs placebo.
RCT
Uchiyama 2008 (RCT)
✓ Source
RCT in 100 adults; konjac-derived glucosylceramide (1.8 mg/day) significantly lowered cheek TEWL vs control at weeks 8 and 12.
review
Yong 2025 (narrative review)
✓ Source
Narrative review of ceramides in skin health concluding that ceramides (topical and dietary) support the moisture barrier, preserve hydration and reduce inflammation, and are used to repair barrier defects in atopic dermatitis and dry skin.
Review
Yong 2025 (Exp Dermatol)
✓ PubMed
A 2025 narrative review concludes oral rice ceramides and pineapple-derived glucosylceramides improve stratum corneum hydration and reduce transepidermal water loss, while noting human evidence remains limited and warrants larger trials.
review
Yunoki/Ohta 2021 (review)
✓ Full text
Review (Int J Mol Sci) concluding that dietary glucosylceramides/sphingolipids have low intestinal absorption but, after digestion to ceramides and sphingoid bases, support intestinal homeostasis (anti-inflammatory, anti-colon-cancer effects in animal models) and can reach skin to improve barrier function and moisture.
Review
Kono (J Dermatol qualitative review) 2021
✓ PubMed
Structured qualitative review (41 comparative studies; 12 selected by PICO) concluded that ceramide-containing preparations improve dry skin and barrier function (water retention, reduced TEWL), while noting that low stratum-corneum ceramide drives dry, barrier-disrupted skin and that larger double-blind trials are warranted.
Observational
Ideta 2022 (Cosmetics/PMC)
✓ Full text
An open-label prospective study of oral rice (Oryza sativa) ceramide supplementation reported improved skin barrier function with reduced transepidermal water loss and depigmentation effects over the study period.