Collagen supplements and skin

At the most basic level, age-resisting properties of skin are formed from a matrix of collagen and elastin. Collagen is a pliable material found in abundance throughout the human body. It adds structure and integrity. Elastin is a highly elastic protein which is predominantly found in connective tissue and is able to allow tissues to bounce back from deformation.

Together a network of healthy collagen and elastin allows the skin to retain youthful characteristics. However, naturally and without environmental impact i.e. exposure to UV light, skin’s collagen levels decline with age. Skin no longer has the building blocks available to make the same amounts of healthy collagen. Take for example type 1 procollagen – a prominent marker of ongoing collagen synthesis – its levels are decreased by 68% in old skin versus young skin1. Skin elasticity is also significantly impacted with an average 0.55% per year decline for women post menopause2.

With normal chronological ageing, skin becomes wrinkled and inelastic because of poor collagen and elastin health. However recent evidence suggests this change is not inevitable and that careful supplementation to a person’s diet can have notable and significant anti-ageing benefits. Ageing gracefully does not mean giving in to the inevitable effects of time, but perhaps harnessing the natural processes your body already beholds and feeding them the starting materials they need to reignite.

What is collagen and what does it do for your skin?

Collagen is a structural protein found in abundance throughout the human body, however, due to the very visual effects of its loss within skin i.e. wrinkles – collagen is most often spoken about in relation to skin health. Collagen makes up over one-third of the total protein content in the human body while also being accountable for over three-quarters in dry weight content of the skin3. Inside of skin collagen gives structure, integrity, and resilience allowing the skin to resist fine lines and wrinkles, skin sagging, skin laxity, and jowling.

While to date 16 types of collagen have been identified in the human body, 80 to 90% of a person’s collagen content is made up from 3 types – type 1, 2 and 34. Collagen is important in wound healing, tissue regeneration and general skin health and well-being i.e. wrinkle resistance.

Can you replace lost collagen?

Collagen creation depends on the bioavailability of key nutrients and minerals. Vitamin C, for example, is vital for collagen synthesis. However simply increasing levels of vitamin C intake cannot boost levels of collagen synthesis. Clearly, there are more ingredients needed to replace lost collagen levels.

Recently scientists took interest in using a supplemental form of collagen to boost the collagen content of the skin. In such trials bioavailability is key. Nutrients must be broken down into absorbable sizes in order to have the potential for health benefits or in this case anti-ageing efficacy.

Collagen hydrolysate is the most well-studied form of dietary collagen with significant and measurable skin benefits. Collagen hydrolysate also known as hydrolysed collagen is considered a smaller, more absorbable form of collagen. Collagen itself is a macromolecule i.e. it has a very large number of atoms, therefore the process of hydrolysis breaks down select collagen bonds to allow for a smaller, and more absorbable, more bioactive form of collagen – collagen hydrolysate.

Studies have proven after the ingestion of collagen hydrolysate it is absorbed through the digestive tract, is present in the bloodstream and can persist in the skin for up to 96 hours5. However, can collagen supplementation have measurable beneficial effects on skin?

Collagen benefits for skin

A specific form of collagen hydrolysate developed under the brand name of Verisol has several published studies to support beneficial skin effects. Indeed Health Canada has approved supplements containing Verisol for the following health claims6

  • Helps increase skin elasticity
  • Helps augment skin elasticity
  • Helps promote healthy collagen production
  • Helps promote healthy elastin production
  • Helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines
  • Helps reduce eye wrinkles
  • Helps reduce eye wrinkles within 4 weeks
  • Helps reduce fine facial lines
  • Helps increase skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles
  • Helps increase skin density
  • Helps with the appearance of smooth skin
  • Helps to enhance skin surface profile

Note: The fact that Verisol has approved health claims lends substantial evidence to the beneficial anti-ageing effects of collagen hydrolysate. Health claims require a certain standard of evidence and its clear collagen hydrolysate as developed under the Verisol brand name has attained this benchmark.

Additional studies completed by the manufacturer of Verisol show collagen hydrolysate may also have beneficial effects on the appearance of cellulite7. A condition which is in part caused by the poor health and distribution of collagen networks.

Collagen benefits: Skin elasticity

A 2014 published study in the journal of skin pharmacology and physiology concluded daily supplementation with collagen hydrolysate (either 2.5g or 5.0g) for 8 weeks showed significant improvement (an average of 7%) in skin elasticity when compared to the placebo. The effects were of even greater significance for women aged over 50 years8. Indeed once the treatments had been stopped for 4 weeks, women over 50 years of age still showed significantly increased skin elasticity to that of the placebo group, having retained 98% positive effects. Some women showed an increase in skin elasticity of up to 30%.

Prior studies on the effects of the skin of collagen hydrolysate have shown fibroblast growth (a type of cell which can produce collagen), dermal extracellular matrix synthesis, antioxidative protection and reduction of skin wrinkle formation. Therefore it’s thought the increased skin elasticity effects of collagen hydrolysate are not because collagen hydrolysate can directly replace lost collagen levels, but because collagen hydrolysate can stimulate the production of new collagen fibres while also aiding in the protection of existing collagen fibres.

Indeed a 2011 published study showed not only can collagen hydrolysate supplementation increase the expression of type 1 and 4 collagen levels but it can also decrease levels of metalloproteinases (MMPS) a type of enzyme responsible for the degradation of collagen9. These investigated benefits of collagen hydrolysate are particularly significant because collagen type 1 is the most predominant collagen type found in the dermis i.e. the deeper levels of the skin. Stimulate change here and the effects can be long-lasting.

Note: A reason why dietary supplementation may be potently more effective for anti-ageing than topically applied skincare.

Type 4 collagen is not a predominant collagen protein but is responsible for forming a tightly linked skin integrity in the basement membrane – type 4 collagen is significantly decreased at the bottom of wrinkles10. Therefore supplementation with collagen hydrolysate has the potential for significant anti-wrinkle, anti-ageing benefits.

Collagen benefits: Reduced wrinkles

Another collagen supplement trial published in 2014 tested the effects of a 2.5 gram daily dose of Verisol on eye wrinkle formation in addition to stimulation of procollagen 1, elastin and fibrillin (essential for the formation of elastin) synthesis. Results after 8 weeks of supplementation showed a statistically significant reduction in eye wrinkle volume which continued to persist as a statistically significant improvement compared to the placebo group, 4 weeks after volunteers had stopped taking Verisol.

On investigation of the biological effects, this 8-week study showed people taking 2.5g of Verisol daily had a statistically and significantly higher content of procollagen 1 (65%) and elastin (18%).

The eye area is particularly prone to wrinkling and out of all facial areas is the first to show wrinkling and most commonly the most prominent site of wrinkling. In general wrinkle formation rate due to chronological ageing decreases in the following order eye corner > forehead > cheek > mouth corner11. It is therefore extremely significant that supplementation with collagen hydrolysate can help reverse ageing effects on sites of skin most telling of a person’s age.

After 4 weeks of supplementation with collagen hydrolysate, an average reduction in eye wrinkle volume of 7.2% was seen. After 8 weeks of supplementation, this increased to an average of 20.1%. Specifically, the greatest decrease in eye wrinkle volume was 49.9%.

Collagen benefits: Hydration

Another manufacturer of collagen peptides which is marketed under Peptan has shown consumption of collagen hydrolysate, specifically of a molecular weight between 2000-5000 Da when taken at a 10-gram dose can help improve skin hydration.

Skin ageing is directly correlated with decreased skin hydration. A dehydrated skin condition can cause fine lines and wrinkles to become accentuated as a loss of hydration encourages skin to fold into itself. Conversely when the skin is hydrated a plumping anti-wrinkle effect is visible. With 8 weeks of supplementation with collagen hydrolysate, a significant increase in skin hydration was measurable. Specifically in volunteers taking Peptan F, an average increase in skin moisture of 12% after 8 weeks and for those taking Peptan P, 16% after 4 weeks and 28% after 8 weeks12.

As the increase in skin hydration was independent of any change to trans-epidermal water loss, it seems supplementation with collagen hydrolysate leads to an increase in the skin’s ability to bind moisture rather than an increase in the skin’s ability to lock in moisture. Indeed in a further study, it is noted after supplementation skin’s glycosaminoglycans content is significantly increased – hyaluronic acid is perhaps the most famous glycosaminoglycan.

Note: the difference between Peptan F and Peptan P is the source of collagen hydrolysate. Peptan F is collagen hydrolysate sourced from fish origin and Peptan P collagen hydrolysate is sourced from porcine origin i.e. pigs. Therefore the source of collagen hydrolysate has a significant effect on the skin benefits seen.

Collagen benefits: Cellulite Improvements

Cellulite affects over 85% of women past the age of 20 and is the visual effect of subcutaneous fat bulging through into the dermis. Cellulite can be visible in people of all weights however it is known that clinical grades of cellulite are positively correlated with BMI13 an effect thought to be due to a weaker and more diffuse connective tissue structure.

As collagen hydrolysate has a beneficial effect on collagen production and therefore connective tissue structure, researchers hypothesised collagen hydrolysate supplementation could also help relieve the appearance of cellulite.

The 2015 published study used Verisol at a 2.5 gram dose (collagen hydrolysate of 2, 000 Da weight) which showed after 3 months of supplementation a statistically significant decrease in cellulite score was seen. In people with a normal BMI, cellulite scoring decreased by 5.3% with 3 months of treatment, after 6 months of treatment this was increased to 9%. In people with a BMI of over 25, cellulite reduction was still noteworthy, however not as great as in people with a normal BMI – 4% reduction14.

After 6 months of supplementation with collagen hydrolysate patients had a visibly increased dermal density which may, therefore, resist to a greater extent the bulging through of subcutaneous fat i.e. cellulite.

How to find a collagen supplement?

The best collagen for most guaranteed skin benefits would be any product using Verisol or Peptan P as these forms of collagen hydrolysate have been clinically tested and validated to show impressive skin benefits.

Verisol can be found under many brand names as Verisol is manufacturers branding. The makers of Verisol sell their product onto manufacturers of supplements, therefore, meaning you will find Verisol as an ingredient on many differently branded supplements.

However, if either of these types of collagen hydrolysate is not readily available the best collagen supplements for skin benefits, based on to date known trial data would be;

  • Of 2, 000 to 2, 500 Da in size
  • Collagen hydrolysate also known as hydrolysed collagen/collagen peptides
  • Of a daily dose between 2.5 grams to 10 grams
  • Of porcine origin

Note: Collagen supplements need to be taken consistency for long-term skin effects.

References and Sources

  1. Decreased Collagen Production in Chronologically Aged Skin : Roles of Age-Dependent Alteration in Fibroblast Function and Defective Mechanical Stimulation, James Varani, Michael K. Dame, Laure Rittie, Suzanne E.G. Fligiel, Sewon Kang, Gary J. Fisher, John J. Voorhees, Am J Pathol. 2006 Jun; 168(6): 1861–1868. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2006.051302

  2. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. E. Proksch, D. Segger, J. Degwert, M. Schunck, V. Zague, S. Oesser, Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014; 27(1): 47–55. Published online 2013 Aug 14. doi: 10.1159/000351376

  3. Shoulders MD, Raines RT. COLLAGEN STRUCTURE AND STABILITY. Annual review of biochemistry. 2009;78:929-958. doi:10.1146/annurev.biochem.77.032207.120833.

  4. Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, et al. Molecular Cell Biology. 4th edition. New York: W. H. Freeman; 2000. Section 22.3, Collagen: The Fibrous Proteins of the Matrix. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21582/

  5. Collagen hydrolysate intake increases skin collagen expression and suppresses matrix metalloproteinase 2 activity. Vivian Zague, Vanessa de Freitas, Marina da Costa Rosa, Geórgia Álvares de Castro, Ruy G. Jaeger, Gláucia M. Machado-Santelli, J Med Food. 2011 Jun; 14(6): 618–624. Published online 2011 Apr 11. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2010.0085

  6. https://www.nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com/news/article_page/Health_Canada_recognises_VERISOL_as_safe_and_effective/109397

  7. Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S, Proksch E. Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2015;18(12):1340-1348. doi:10.1089/jmf.2015.0022.

  8. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. E. Proksch, D. Segger, J. Degwert, M. Schunck, V. Zague, S. Oesser

    Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014; 27(1): 47–55. Published online 2013 Aug 14. doi: 10.1159/000351376

  9. Collagen hydrolysate intake increases skin collagen expression and suppresses matrix metalloproteinase 2 activity. Vivian Zague, Vanessa de Freitas, Marina da Costa Rosa, Geórgia Álvares de Castro, Ruy G. Jaeger, Gláucia M. Machado-Santelli, J Med Food. 2011 Jun; 14(6): 618–624. Published online 2011 Apr 11. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2010.0085

  10. Contet-Audonneau JL, Jeanmaire C, Pauly G: A histological study of human wrinkle structures: comparison between sunexposed areas the face, with or without wrinkles and sunprotected areas. Br J Dermatol 1999;140:1038–1047.

  11. Takema Y, Yorimoto Y, Kawai M: The relationship between age-related changes in the physical properties and development of wrinkles in human facial skin. J Soc Cosmet Chem, 1995; 46: 163–173.

  12. 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. Jérome Asserin, Elian Lati, Toshiaki Shioya, Janne Prawitt, J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015 Dec; 14(4): 291–301. Published online 2015 Sep 12. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12174

  13. Mirrashed F, Sharp JC, Krause V, Morgan J, Tomanek B: Pilot study of dermal and subcutaneous fat structures by MRI in individuals who differ in gender, BMI, and cellulite grading. Skin Res Technol 2004;10:161–168

  14. Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S, Proksch E. Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2015;18(12):1340-1348. doi:10.1089/jmf.2015.0022.