Singapore brand MIRIQA has developed a supplement designed for eczema patients, using pre-, pro- and postbiotics as key active ingredients.
MIRIQA Dermabiotics is currently available in over 100 clinics, as well as the National Skin Centre and major hospital pharmacies across Singapore.
A key ingredient is Lactobacillus rhamnosus IDCC RHT3201, which is the first postbiotic approved by the Korean FDA for its immune-balancing properties.
In a 12-week clinical trial, the postbiotic was reported to reduce inflammatory markers eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and interleukin-31 (IL-31) in children aged 1 to 12 with moderate atopic dermatitis (AD).
Formulated with other probiotic strains including Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, prebiotics fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), chicory dietary fiber and vitamin D3, the blueberry / raspberry-flavored powder sachet can be consumed directly or mixed with water.
Speaking to NutraIngredients at a media event on the product, Founder of MIRIQA Geraldine Lim said the goal of developing the product was to provide an alternative for eczema patients who may need topical or oral steroids or biologics such as injectables to cope with flare-ups.
Topical steroids, however, could lead to side effects such as skin thinning, while oral steroids could cause moon face and even growth suppression in children. Biologics, on the other hand, could cause eye-related side effects such as conjunctivitis.
Eczema is a subject close to Lim’s heart, as her daughter, who is now in her teens, used to struggle with eczema as a child.
“While steroids can reduce the flare, I found out from paediatricians that it usually causes moon face and height retardation,” said Lim. “Injectables are required to be taken monthly for years and I did not want a child who is still growing to go through this. I decided to go for something natural and came across the gut-skin axis.”
The gut-skin axis
With 70% to 80% of immune cells residing in the gut, an imbalance in gut bacteria could not only affect immune response but also influence other body organs through various gut-x axes, including the gut-skin axis.
For example, the gut microbiome influences skin health by regulating systemic immunity, inflammatory responses and microbial metabolite production. Gut dysbiosis is also associated with skin conditions such as psoriasis, AD and acne.
“Because there are thousands and thousands of strains, the first thing that caught our eye was the postbiotic RHT3201 from South Korea, because it has clinical evidence for prenatal, babies and also for pregnant mothers. It then became the first hero ingredient that we have for the product,” said Lim.
While she could have stopped at postbiotics, Lim opted to beef up the formulation by adding pre- and probiotics, as well as using a patented quadruple coating technology to protect probiotics from heat, stomach acid and bile.
“I could have left it as that – just using postbiotics, but I wanted a ‘suit-up’ version and told the manufacturer to formulate a product containing actives at the maximum dose,” she said. “Although this would push up our cost, I would rather come up with a product that works. I didn’t want to disappoint people with eczema because they’ve gone through so much.”
The actives and the clinical evidence
Eventually, the product was formulated with clinically studied probiotics such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus salivarus IDC 3551, Lactobacillus casei IDCC 3451, Lactobacillus plantarum IDCC 3501 and Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301.
“The probiotics that we have found to be effective include LGG, which has the world’s most number of clinical papers regarding skin health. We also came across Lactobacillus salivarius, which paediatricians told us about. There is emerging evidence showing that when you use salivarius, you reduce the use of steroid creams as well as non-steroidal creams,” she said.
In fact, MIRIQA Dermabiotics is safe for consumption for babies from three months of age, pregnant and breastfeeding women, with strains showing effectiveness in preventing early atopic disease in children.
Specifically, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) was reported to lower the incidence of atopic eczema in children with one or both parents suffering from atopic eczema in a study by Kalliomaki et al. and published in The Lancet in 2001.
In the study, 159 pregnant women were randomized to take either LGG or placebo four weeks before delivery and then six months postnatally, either by the mothers themselves or by their infants. Findings showed that the frequency of atopic eczema in the probiotic group was half that of the placebo group.
A four-year follow-up study by Kalliomaki et al., also published in The Lancet two years later, reported that the preventive effect of LGG on atopic eczema could extend beyond infancy.
Lactobacillus salivarus, on the other hand, was tested in adults with AD for 16 weeks and was found to have significantly reduced the SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) index compared to placebo, with significant improvements in quality of life as seen in a lower Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
The prebiotic FOS was also added to the formulation, as it has been shown to significantly reduce SCORAD, itching score and sleep disturbance, as seen in a study published in 2024. Vitamin D3 was also used, as studies have shown that a deficiency could worsen eczema.
Healthcare channel first to build professional recognition
In contrast to its other health supplement products, MIRIQA has focused only on the healthcare practitioner channels for Dermabiotics since it was launched a year ago.
“Endorsement and feedback from clinics are very important, which is why we have started with the practitioner channel,” said Lim, adding that the brand will continue building the product’s reputation among healthcare professionals, while spreading public awareness of the product through engagements with KOLs.
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