Do collagen supplements really improve skin? Major review reveals the truth

Collagen supplements person exploded successful popularity, touted arsenic everything from an anti-aging occurrence to a musculus betterment booster.

But a sweeping caller reappraisal conducted by U.K. researchers suggests that portion collagen whitethorn assistance amended tegument elasticity and easiness arthritis pain, it does small for diversion show oregon wrinkle reduction.

Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized controlled trials involving astir 8,000 participants worldwide, which they accidental is the astir extended valuation of collagen’s wellness effects to date. 

The reappraisal recovered accordant grounds that collagen supplementation improves tegument elasticity and hydration implicit clip and provides important alleviation from osteoarthritis-related associated symptom and stiffness, according to findings published successful Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 

A ample U.K. reappraisal recovered that collagen supplements whitethorn amended tegument elasticity and hydration implicit time. (iStock)

The researchers, however, did not find meaningful improvements successful post-exercise musculus recovery, soreness oregon tendon mechanical properties (strength, springiness and agelong resistance).

"Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does person credible benefits erstwhile utilized consistently implicit time, peculiarly for tegument and osteoarthritis," co-author Lee Smith, prof of nationalist wellness astatine Anglia Ruskin University, said successful a statement.

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"Our findings amusement wide benefits successful cardinal areas of steadfast aging, portion besides dispelling immoderate of the myths surrounding its use," Smith added.

Collagen, the astir abundant macromolecule successful the body, supports skin, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue, according to experts. Natural collagen accumulation begins to driblet successful aboriginal adulthood and declines much sharply with age.

The survey recovered that collagen supplements whitethorn assistance trim associated symptom and stiffness successful radical with osteoarthritis. (iStock)

The reappraisal recovered that semipermanent collagen supplementation was linked to improved tegument firmness and hydration, but did not assistance tegument roughness — a proxy for disposable wrinkles. 

Benefits look to accumulate gradually, suggesting that collagen should not beryllium viewed arsenic an "anti-wrinkle 'quick fix,' but arsenic a foundational dermal enactment for individuals seeking holistic tegument maintenance," the researchers said.

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"If we specify anti-aging arsenic a merchandise oregon method designed to forestall the quality of getting older, past I judge our findings bash enactment this assertion for immoderate parameters," Smith told the BBC. "For example, an betterment successful tegument code and moisture is associated with a much youthful-looking appearance."

Collagen supplementation was linked to reduced symptom and stiffness successful radical with osteoarthritis, with stronger benefits seen implicit longer periods of use, and showed humble improvements successful musculus wide and tendon operation that whitethorn enactment steadfast aging. 

Collagen did not importantly amended tegument roughness, a marker of disposable wrinkles. (iStock)

However, it did not amusement meaningful results erstwhile utilized arsenic a fast-acting sports show supplement, and grounds for benefits related to cholesterol, humor sugar, humor unit and oral wellness was mixed oregon inconclusive.

Dr. Daniel Ghiyam, a California-based doc and longevity specialist, said the findings align with what helium sees successful objective practice.

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"Collagen is simply a targeted enactment tool, not a instauration of wellness oregon performance," Ghiyam, who was not progressive successful the study, told Fox News Digital. "When marketed that way, it makes sense. When marketed arsenic a cure-all, it doesn’t clasp up to the data."

The authors noted that portion galore erstwhile collagen studies person received fiscal enactment from the supplement industry, the existent reappraisal did not person manufacture funding.

Experts accidental collagen supplements whitethorn connection humble benefits for tegument hydration and associated comfort, but they are not a cure-all. (iStock)

The squad called for much high-quality objective trials examining semipermanent outcomes, optimal dosages, and differences betwixt collagen sources, specified arsenic marine, bovine and plant-based alternatives. 

Among its limitations, the reappraisal could not find whether definite forms of collagen enactment amended than others oregon what the optimal regimen should be. 

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While the reappraisal included randomized controlled trials, the prime of the studies varied, with newer probe mostly showing stronger results.

Experts accidental much information and studies are needed to physique connected the findings. They besides noted that fare plays a important relation successful tegument health.

Collagen supplements, often sold arsenic powders oregon pills, whitethorn amended tegument elasticity and easiness associated pain, experts say. (iStock)

Dr. Erum Ilyas, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist and seat of dermatology astatine Drexel University College of Medicine, noted that the reappraisal analyzed antecedently published meta-analyses alternatively than generating caller superior data.

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"At this time, I person not seen sufficiently beardown autarkic grounds to routinely urge collagen supplements to my patients," Ilyas, who was not progressive successful the review, told Fox News Digital.

"Although immoderate studies amusement humble improvements successful markers specified arsenic hydration and elasticity, determination remains constricted independent, biopsy-confirmed grounds demonstrating sustained increases successful dermal collagen content," she added.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the researchers for comment.

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