Dear all LYN sellers
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See Here How He Play With His CustomerSee Here How He Sabotage Other SellersMORE INFO REGARDING SAFETY OF KOJIC ACID AS RESEARCH BY A DOC! NOT A HP SELLER!!!!!
Prepared by: Dr. Charlene DeHaven, Clinical Director
SAFETY OF KOJIC ACID
Kojic acid is commonly used for dermal pigmentary problems and an exhaustive review of the medical literature illustrates its safety in this regard. In addition to its safety as a lightening agent, it possesses several other characteristics beneficial to skin health. These are well-described in scien- tific studies and include cancer-fighting effects, protection against photoaging, and excellent antioxidant effects.
WHERE FOUND
Kojic acid is commonly found in cosmetic products where it is used for its effect on melanocytes in lightening pigment and as a food additive to retard spoilage. Its natural source is from various fungi, including Aspergillus and Penicillium. It is found in association with several grains, particularly soybeans and soybean products. It was first identified over 100 years ago as a component of sake (rice wine).
CURRENT INTERNATIONAL COSMETIC MILIEU
United States — The US government has issued no bans or warnings on the use of kojic acid in foods and/or cosmetic products. It is commonly found as a food additive in the US because of its antioxidant (spoilage-preventing) effects and flavor-enhancing effects. It is also found in cosmetic prepa- rations. It is found in soy products, including soybean paste, soy sauce and rice wine (sake). Kojic acid would be virtually impossible to remove from these common foods because it is produced by several species of fungi found with soybeans and other grains.
Japan — Although prior medical literature in Japan and also world-wide found no carcinogenic potential with kojic acid, a 1999 study showed that kojic acid at very high doses given orally to rodents caused some stimulation of thyroid cells by increasing TSH. This study showed no carcino- genic (cancer-causing) potential but was extrapolated to this ONLY THEORETICAL POSSIBILITY. Another study, also using extremely high oral doses of kojic acid also in rodents, showed a slight increase in stimulating liver cells to develop adenomas (benign, NOT malignant, tumors). A suggestion was also made that there COULD be genetic toxicity, since liver adenomas were increased. No associa- tion was found with the development of malignant tumors (cancers) in these studies. The Japanese government has stated there is no immediately safety concern, but has ordered further studies be done with kojic acid. These future studies have been outlined by Japan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and include DNA composition with kojic acid stimulation, tumor initiation and promotion studies in rats, and endodermic absorption studies in humans. Japan is allowing all present products containing kojic acid to be sold from shelves but has ordered the importation of foreign cosmetics containing kojic acid to stop until results of the additional studies are complete. Kojic acid is commonly found cosmetic ingredient in Japan because it is used for skin lightening in a population having more melanin and considering pale skin to be desirable.
Kojic acid has been used in Japan and the rest of Asia since 1988 with no reports of any problem. In Asia, it has always been a constituent of soy products in foods, including miso (soybean paste), soy sauce and sake. In fact, it has been consumed avidly in the diet for generations for its supposed health benefits. In spite of this large oral consumption, no problems have been reported with its use in the past.
Korea — The Korean government, like Japan, states there is no presently known danger from kojic acid and continues to allow products containing kojic acid to be sold. Also like Japan, Korea has banned the importation of products containing kojic acid from foreign manufacturers pending results of the future Japanese testing. The Korean Cosmetic Industry Association notes that 30% of all cosmetic formulations sold in Korea contain kojic acid. It is a popular ingredient for skin lightening in this population having more melanin in their skin.
Switzerland — Switzerland has banned kojic acid from products sold in their country because of the results of the recent Japanese studies on thyroid and liver cells in rodents.
MEDICAL STUDIES—POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE- DONE IN ANIMALS OR IN THE TEST TUBE
An exhaustive review of the worldwide scientific literature was done. No studies done in humans show any tumor- promoting effect of kojic acid or any significant toxicity even above the usual topical or oral dose. And numerous studies illustrate the beneficial effects of kojic acid as an antioxi- dant, in preventing cancer, in protecting the skin from photo- aging, in preventing wrinkles, and in enhancing immune function. The only negative studies found were in very high doses given to animals in their diet or in laboratory assays done at high doses in the test tube. Only a small number of these studies can be found in the scientific literature.
As with most substances, if given in truly huge doses, a toxic effect can be elicited. For example, if injected intrave- nously in extremely high doses, seizures can be precipi- tated. Some recent studies from Japan do show that if given in extremely high doses in the diet of rodents, a slight inhibitory effect on thyroid hormone synthesis occurs, leading to a concomitant small increase in TSH.
This increased TSH translates into mild thyroid gland stimulation, which can increase the tendency for benign formation. No tendency towards malignant transformation was detected; therefore, it is not surprising that no genetic alteration or toxicity was demonstrated. Other studies of thyroid cells in rodents did not confirm these results. Also from Japan are a few studies of rodents which show some hyperplasia (increased number of normal cells) of liver cells in rodents given very large amounts of dietary kojic acid. Other studies involving liver cells do not confirm this effect, so these results are also conflicting. Both a massive dose of kojic acid and a long oral administration period were required to see any effect on either thyroid or liver cells in rodents.
Because kojic acid is contained within various grains fed to poultry, research was done years ago in the US to determine the amount required in the diet to cause a potential problem. The amounts required (2 grams of kojic acid per kilogram of poultry food) were so large that it was concluded impossible for this substance to be of concern.
Kojic acid has been found to have other topical benefits in addition to its effect on melanocytes. It helps prevent skin wrinkling due to photodamage via antioxidant and metal- chelating effects. It has a very prominent antioxidant effect in quenching singlet oxygen and other free radicals.
In spite of the few studies suggesting a link with benign neoplasms, many more studies have shown the cancer- preventive effects of kojic acid. When placed with sulfur mustard (a very potent cancer-causing agent) in skin cell culture, kojic acid reduced the sensitivity to the neoplastic agent and helped prevent the development of malignant cells lines. Kojic acid has been suggested as a potentiator for other cancer treatments because of its antifungal effects and effects against leukemias and other cancers. It also increases the natural function of the body’s own cellular immunity. Its positive effects on host immunity relate to both a direct effect on cellular immune function and a free radical-quenching effect on the chemical byproducts created by normal immune functioning that could damage adjacent healthy tissues if not neutralized.
SUMMARY
Over a period of many years, numerous studies are found in the scientific literature which shows that kojic acid actually has potential as a treatment for cancer, to decrease tendency towards malignancy, and that it is an excellent antioxidant, providing numerous benefits on that basis also.
Kojic acid has been found in the Asian diet for many genera- tions and, in fact, has been consumed avidly for supposed health benefits. It is found in soybeans and all soybean products. Considering its wide consumption for such a long period, it seems extremely unlikely there are any negative effects to oral consumption and certainly not for topical use. Epidemiologic studies involving humans have shown no link to cancer or any other adverse medical condition. Also of interest is the fact that, although now under an import ban for cosmetics, kojic acid is so universally found in soybeans, soybean products and sake that it would be impossible to remove it from the Asian diet.
The recent studies that generated concern were done in Japan using rodents. They have been criticized because their results were conflicting and the doses of kojic acid used were massive and given orally over a long period of time. They did show a minor stimulation effect on thyroid cells via TSH increases in a small percentage of animals, but some studies found this translated into slightly more benign tumors in the kojic acid group while other studies did not confirm this. A few studies were done involving liver cells in rodents and, once again, were conflicting, with some showing a minor increase in the growth of normal cell types and some not. There was no increase in the occur - rence of malignancies. No genetic toxicity to thyroid or liver cells or any other cell type was demonstrated.
Overall, kojic acid seems to be safe when consumed in foods and also when used topically in cosmetics. It also has benefits as an antioxidant, in preventing photoaging, and in protecting against malignant transformation.
References
“Kojic Acid Scavenges Free Radicals while Potentiating Leukocyte Functions including Free Radical Generation”,
Y Niwa, H Akamatsu; Inflammation. 1991 Aug;15(4):303-15.
“Kojic Acid—a new leading Molecule for a Preparation of Compounds with an Anti-Neoplastic Potential”,
L Novotny, P Rauko, M Abdel-Hamid, A Vachalkova; Neoplasma.1999;46(2):89-92.
“Evaluation of Health Aspects of Kojic Acid in Food”,
GA Burdock, MG Soni, IG Carabin; Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2001 Feb;33(1):80-101.
“Dose-Threshold for Thyroid Tumor-Promoting Effects of Orally Administered Kojic Acid in Rats after
Initiation with N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl) Nitrosamine”,
T Tamura, K Misumori, H Onodera, N Fujimoto, K Yasuhara, K Takegawa, H Takagi, M Hirose
; J Toxicol Sci. 2001 May;26(2):85-94.
“Toxic Effects of Kojic Acid in the Diet of Male Broilers”,
LE Giroir, WE Huff, LE Kubena, RB Harvey, MH Elissalde, DA Witzel, AG Yersin, GW Ivie; Poult Sci. 1991 Mar;70(3):499-503.
“Kojic Acid, a Potential Inhibitor of NF-kappaB Activation in Transfectant Human HaCaT and SCC-13 Cells”,
KY Moon, KS Ahn, J Lee, YS Kim; Arch Pharm Res. 2001 Aug;24(4):307-11.
“Ingredient Review—Kojic Acid”,
RJ Gadberry; Skin, Inc; ePub isnow.comesthetics; Sep 2003.
“Kojic Acid and Its Derivatives as Potential Therapeutic Agents”,
M Uher, M Chalabala, J Cizmarik; Ceska Slov Farm. 2000 Nov;49(6):288-98.
“The Antioxidant Action of Polypodium leucotomos Extract and Kojic Acid: Reactions with Reactive Oxygen Species”,
AJ Gomes, CN Lunardi, S Gonzalez, AC Tedesco; Braz J Med Biol Res. 2001 Nov;34(11):1487-94.
“Kojic Acid Reduces the Cytotoxic Effects of Sulfur Mustard on Cultures Containing Human Melanoma Cells in Vitro”,
CN Smith, CD Lindsay; J Appl Toxicol. 2001 Nov-Dec;21(6):435-40.
“Prevention of the Photodamage in the Hairless Mouse Dorsal Skin by Kojic Acid as an Iron Chelator”,
H Mitani, I Koshiishi, T Sumita, T Imanari; Eur J Pharmacol. 2001 Jan 5;411(1-2):169-174.
“Effects of Kojic Acid on Thyroidal Functions in Rats by Single-Dose Administration and
in Cultured Rat Thyroid Cells (FRTL-5 Cells)",
Y Higa, A Ohkubo, S Kitajima, M Moriyasi, K Kariya; J Toxicol Sci. 2002 Dec;27(5):423-31.
“Hepatocellular Tumor Induction in Heterozygous p53-Deficient CBA Mice by a 26-Week Dietary
Administration of Kojic Acid”,
T Takizawa, K Mitsumori, T Tamura, M Nasu, M Ueda, T Imai, M Hirose; Tixocol Sci. 2003 Jun;73(2):287-93.
“Changes in Thyroid Function During Development of Thyroid Hyperplasia Induced by Kojic Acid in F344 Rats”,
N Fujimoto, H Onodera, K Mitsumori, T Tamura, S Maruyama, I Akihiro; Carcinogen. Aug 1999;20(8):1567-1572.
This post has been edited by aliceq: Feb 11 2010, 11:38 AM 
Apr 23 2009, 09:45 AM, updated 11y ago
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i wash my face 3 times a day... 
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I just received an order from Indonesia, check it out:
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