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Supplements are one of the big new “it” categories in beauty, and collagen supplements are one of the most popular. Oral collagen supplements are supposed to be anti-aging, get rid of wrinkles and plump up skin so it looks younger. What’s the science behind them and do they really work?
I made a video on the topic! In it I talk about the way collagen supplements could theoretically work, and then break down the clinical studies on eating and drinking collagen.
The key studies I discuss are:
In vitro prolyl-hydroxyproline and measuring prolyl-hydroxyproline fragments in blood after oral consumption
- H Ohara et al., Collagen-derived dipeptide, proline-hydroxyproline, stimulates cell proliferation and hyaluronic acid synthesis in cultured human dermal fibroblasts, J Dermatol 2010, 37, 330-338. DOI: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2010.00827.x
Clinical trials
- M Borumand & S Sibilla, Daily consumption of the collagen supplement Pure Gold Collagen® reduces visible signs of aging (open access), Clin Interv Aging 2014, 9, 1747-1758. DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S65939
- E Proksch et al., Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis, Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2014, 27, 113-119. DOI: 10.1159/000355523
- E Proksch et al., Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2014, 27, 47-55. DOI: 10.1159/000351376
- J Asserin et al., The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (open access), J Cosmet Dermatol 2015, 14, 291-301. DOI: 10.1111/jocd.12174
The best studied collagen type that I mentioned in the video (independently studied) is called Verisol – it’s in a whole bunch of supplements on Amazon.
Here’s the video! Let me know what you think, and if you’ve tried collagen supplements before?
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Love your super educational videos Michelle 🙂 I’ve never tried collagen supplements before! I know my mom has, but I don’t think she saw results.
I haven´t tried collagen supplements before, so I am really looking forward to watching your video later.
I’ve been taking a marine collagen supplement for close to 6 months. I also take fish omega 3’s with it. I think my skin texture has improved. It’s smoother. But the real difference is my hair and nails. My hair was falling out due to menopause. And my nails were extremely brittle.
Hormone therapy didn’t help with hair or nails. Since I started the collagen and omega 3’s, the shedding pretty much stopped. When I skipped the supplements for a couple of weeks I started shedding. It’s also growing very fast. It’s growing nearly an inch a month. Prior to the collagen it barely grew 1/4” a month.
My nails are noticeably less brittle. They used to split and break easily. And I’d develop a lot of hang nails. Now I can grow them out beyond the tips of my fingers. And I rarely develop a hangnail.
I really appreciate your work. The information you provide is extremely useful in understanding the truth about skincare.
Michelle, I just found your blog and I am loving it! Thank you for what you do and please never stop! As a person who somewhat remembers some things from high school chemistry, I am constantly reading the labels of my beauty products and evaluating them, ingredient by ingredient. I wish more beauty bloggers/gurus/influencers/whatever we’re calling them now would focus more on reading labels and explaining the “how” and “why” behind products!
I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks so much for letting me know, I hope I’ll be able to continue to put out content you enjoy 😀
It seems a lot of people didn’t try collagen supplements yet! anyways thanks for the video 🙂
How would eating food with lots of collagen affect your skin? I love tendon, especially in pho, and any excuse to eat more I’m all for!
It’s hard to say for sure – there hasn’t been any studies done on that AFAIK, but it doesn’t hurt!
I have been taking hydrolysed mariner collagen and it works. My skin use smoother and finer. Texture has improved too.
Hi Michelle
The beauty clinic where I go often recommend that I should be taking EFA supplements to help my oily skin appear less oily. Have you ever seen any evidence to support this claim?
Thanks for putting evidence based advice for skin care out there, I’ve found it really helpful 🙂
The consumption of some dietary supplements may also help prevent cancer. A number of essential vitamins, including vitamins A, C and E, act as antioxidants in the body. They work to neutralize chemicals called free radicals that cause oxidative damage within your cells.
Except in some studies, the consumption of antioxidant supplements increased cancer: https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/22108/cancer-prevention/diet-exercise/nutrition-diet/fruit-vegetables/vitamins-and-cancer/
The safest source of antioxidants is just eating antioxidant-rich food.