Elastin is a kind of hard protein with elasticity like rubber. It is found in elastic connective tissues - ligaments, blood vessels (arteries), lungs, skin, etc., and is present throughout the human body along with collagen and other proteins.
Elastin contains specific amino acids - "desmosine" and "isodesmosine", which play an important role in cross-linking.
Desmosine and isodesmosine are cross-linking amino acids characteristic of elastin; they hold elastin chains together into elastic fibres.
Bonito Elastin Peptide is made from the bulbus arteriosus (aortic bulb) of bonito, the elastic chamber at the base of the fish heart. In fish, the bulbus arteriosus smooths blood flow out of the heart; studies in tuna show its wall is rich in elastin and low in collagen (Braun et al., J Exp Biol, 2003). In the manufacturer's analysis of 13 bonito tissues, the elastin cross-links desmosine and isodesmosine were detected only in the bulbus arteriosus.
Bonito Elastin Peptide is manufactured in Japan. Process steps (manufacturer's data):
Processing aids: protease (enzyme), diatomaceous earth and activated carbon (manufacturer's data).
The fish raw material is sourced from Thailand and the Philippines; extraction and processing take place in Japan.
Bonito Elastin Peptide is a pale yellow powder with min. 90% crude protein and min. 0.1% desmosine + isodesmosine. Specification limits (manufacturer's data):
Recent lots measured crude protein 94.3-96.1% and desmosine + isodesmosine 0.2% (lot CoA available on request).
In the manufacturer's analysis, 62% of peptides (by peak area) are below 500 Da and none exceed 10,000 Da.
Background reading: why molecular weight matters (our article on collagen peptides).
Amino acid profile (per 1,000 residues): glycine 433, proline 106, alanine 86, valine 70, hydroxyproline 6. Unlike collagen, elastin contains little hydroxyproline.
The powder is easily soluble in water, and in the manufacturer's evaluation it suits tablets, hard and soft capsules, granules, drinks, jelly and general foods; baked goods gave good results.
Safety data available (manufacturer's data): acute oral toxicity limit test at 2,000 mg/kg, 90-day oral study in rats, skin and eye irritation tests, umu mutagenicity test (negative). Details in the SDS.
In a long-term human study at 400 mg/day for 13 months (more than five times the 75 mg/day used in efficacy studies), no abnormalities were observed.
Allergen: contains fish (bonito).
Other products on the same production line contain no allergens (manufacturer's data).
The manufacturer has studied this material in humans; below are the study designs and what was measured. They describe the ingredient, not the effect of a finished product.
Request specification and sample - tell us your product format, target market and expected volume. Developing a finished product rather than buying the ingredient? See contract manufacturing in Japan.
Elastin peptide is elastin protein that has been hydrolysed into peptides. Bonito Elastin Peptide is an enzymatically decomposed elastin protein (label names: elastin, elastin peptide), made from the bulbus arteriosus (aortic bulb) of bonito, the elastic chamber at the base of the fish heart. Elastin forms the elastic fibres that give large arteries, lungs and skin their ability to stretch and recoil. Also searched for as marine elastin peptide.
Elastin is a fibrous protein that binds collagen together, also known as "elastin fiber." It is found in the skin dermis, blood vessels, ligaments, and other body tissues where elasticity and stretchiness are required. Elastin is a major component of tissues that need to stretch and recoil: large arteries, ligaments, lungs and skin.
Elastin is a protein widely distributed in vertebrates. However, because it is insoluble in water and other solvents, it was not closely studied until recently.
However, in recent years, a method for dissolving elastin in solvents has been established, and research has advanced rapidly, gradually clarifying its properties and the role it plays in the body.
In our material, glycine, proline, alanine and valine make up about 70% of amino acid residues (433, 106, 86 and 70 per 1,000). Elastin is resistant to chemical influences such as weak acids and alkalis, but is slowly degraded by proteolytic enzymes such as elastase*. Elastin is thus involved in elasticity and stretching of the body.
Together with collagen and hyaluronic acid, elastin is produced by fibroblasts in the dermis of the skin. Fibroblasts are responsible for slow tissue metabolism, creating new tissue and breaking down old tissue. Elastin is made mostly early in life and is barely renewed afterwards: in human lung, elastin carbon has a mean residence time of about 74 years, and skin elastin shows age-related chemical changes consistent with no turnover. Elastin is also said to decrease when exposed to reactive oxygen species**, such as UV light, stress, and smoking. With age, elastic fibres accumulate damage and lose function, which shows as reduced elasticity of skin and vessels. Elastin does not always recover properly from its destruction, so daily care is important.
Elastin is found in large quantities in the aorta of cattle and the bulbus arteriosus (aortic bulb) of bonito***. Animal arteries contain a lot of elastin because they act as pumps to pump blood throughout the body and need to be flexible and elastic. However, the foods that contain the most elastin are rarely found on our tables.
In fish, the bulbus arteriosus is the elastic chamber that smooths blood flow out of the heart; studies in tuna show its wall is rich in elastin and low in collagen (Braun et al., J Exp Biol, 2003).
* Elastase is an enzyme that breaks down elastin.
** Reactive oxygen species are oxygen species that have strong oxidative capacity due to their much higher reactivity compared to normal oxygen. When produced in excess in the body, they affect lipids, proteins, and DNA and are thought to cause aging.
*** The bulbus arteriosus (aortic bulb) is the elastic chamber at the base of the fish heart.
Elastin, along with collagen, is found in the skin's dermis and is responsible for giving the skin elasticity and firmness. Human skin consists of three main layers: epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The dermis, which is rich in elastin, acts as a cushion to keep the skin supple and elastic. The dermis is about 0.5 to 2 mm thick and consists mainly of collagen and elastin, which are protein fibers, and mucopolysaccharides* such as hyaluronic acid, which retain water. Collagen, which makes up about 70% of the dermis, stretches like a mesh, and elastin holds the mesh together. Although elastin makes up only a small share of the dermis, it is very important because it binds collagen together and supports the skin from the inside out. Skin elasticity is maintained by the elasticity of the network of elastin and collagen fibers in the dermis, as well as hyaluronic acid, which fills the spaces between the fibers and retains enough water.
When skin loses elasticity and firmness, wrinkles and sagging appear. Wrinkles and sagging of the skin are caused by damage to elastin and collagen fibers due to reactive oxygen species produced in the body. When reactive oxygen species are produced in the dermis, elastin and collagen fibers break down, become bizarrely intertwined, or are produced in excess, resulting in an imbalance in the fiber structure. As a result of this imbalance, the skin loses its elasticity and firmness, resulting in wrinkles. Loss of elasticity of elastin and collagen fibers also reduces the ability of skin and fat to bind to facial muscles and bones, resulting in sagging skin and fat. Wrinkles and sagging of the skin are therefore linked both to excess active oxygen, which disturbs the fiber structure, and to a deficiency of the main components of the dermis: elastin, collagen and hyaluronic acid.
Elastin is found in the heart and blood vessels throughout the body and plays a role in providing elasticity. The heart has both elastic and muscular arteries, and the elastic arteries near the heart contain particularly large amounts of elastin. Blood pumped from the heart travels through the arteries and then through the veins back to the heart. The walls of arterial and venous blood vessels consist of three layers: intima, tunica media and adventitia. Elastin is particularly abundant in the intima and tunica media of the blood vessel wall, and it is extremely elastic. However, if elastin decreases due to reactive oxygen species or aging, the flexibility of blood vessels is lost.
Ligaments are found throughout the body and consist of many elastin and collagen fibers. The elasticity of elastin and collagen helps maintain the elasticity of the ligaments. When elastin is deficient, ligaments become less elastic and less flexible.
* Mucopolysaccharides are substances that connect cells to each other. They are found in the skin, joints, and internal organs.
Products containing elastin:
Product formats for this ingredient (manufacturer's evaluation):
Fish elastin peptide is an enzymatically decomposed elastin protein; ours is made from the bulbus arteriosus (aortic bulb) of bonito, the elastic chamber at the base of the fish heart. Elastin forms the elastic fibres that let large arteries, lungs and skin stretch and recoil. Its amino acid profile per 1,000 residues is glycine 433, proline 106, alanine 86, valine 70 and hydroxyproline 6: unlike collagen, elastin contains little hydroxyproline.
In the manufacturer's analysis, 62% of peptides (by peak area) are below 500 Da and none exceed 10,000 Da; the rest fall between 500 and 10,000 Da. The powder is easily soluble in water and hygroscopic, so keep the pouch sealed. In a manufacturer's absorption study (n=6, single intake of 10 g per 60 kg body weight), the elastin-derived dipeptide Pro-Gly peaked in blood at 30 minutes and remained detectable for up to 6 hours.
In the manufacturer's evaluation it suits tablets, hard and soft capsules, granules, drinks, jelly and general foods, and baked goods gave good results. At 75 mg per serving the manufacturer reports no effect on taste or odour. Human studies on this material used 75 mg per day; the dosage of a finished product is set by the brand for its market. The manufacturer's formulation example is 1,000 mg collagen peptide with 20 mg elastin peptide (50 : 1).
For evaluation we provide the specification, lot CoA, SDS and manufacturing process statement; documents for product registration follow price agreement and a pilot order. MOQ is 500 g (one pouch), and free evaluation samples are available to registered companies. Supply is to order, with the lead time confirmed in each quotation. Terms are EXW Japan, 100% prepayment by SWIFT transfer or Stripe.
