Written by Joyce Smith, BS. Four weeks daily supplementation with specific collagen peptides significantly improved skin elasticity and demonstrated a more pronounced improvement effect in a subgroup of women over 50 years of age compared to younger women.
The outer epidermal layer, the dermis consisting of collagen and elastin, and a subcutaneous layer of fat give structure to our skin1 . However, its structure and integrity can be challenged by multiple factors including our diet, ultraviolet radiation, hormone levels and the aging process. The wrinkling seen in aging skin is the result of lost elasticity, a thinning epidermis, collagen breakdown, as well as the inability of the skin to sustain hydration2. Previous studies have shown potential benefits of collagen hydroxylate to increase skin collagen density 3, protect the skin against UV light damage 4, and enhance the production of two types of collagen, specifically type 1 and type 1V 5.
Proksch et al 6 hypothesized that an oral supplement containing specific collagen peptides could potentially improve the physiology and aging of skin, and tested the effect of a collagen preparation on skin elasticity, hydration, roughness and trans epidermal water loss (TEWL). In a monocentric, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, they randomized 69 women into 3 groups (n=23) to receive either 2.5 g or 5.0 g of collagen hydroxylate (CH) or placebo once daily for 8 weeks. The CH used in this study was derived from porcine type 1 collagen by a special biotechnological process whereby natural long-chain collagen peptides are enzymatically hydrolysed into predefined short peptide chains. The CH product is commercially available under the name VERISOL®.
Both forearms were used to measure the effects on skin elasticity, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and skin roughness. Measurements were taken before treatment with CH, at 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment and to complete the testing for skin elasticity, additional testing was done 4 weeks after the last intake of CH.
Both 2.5 and 5 g doses of CH showed significant improvement in skin elasticity in all participants after 4 and 8 weeks (P<0.05); however there was no significant difference between the two doses. With regard to the skin moisturizing parameters, overall results revealed that skin evaporation and skin hydration were unchanged in both CH treatment groups. Skin roughness remained unchanged in both treatment and placebo groups. However, a subgroup analysis revealed that women over 50 years of age seemed to have greater improvement in skin elasticity. Even 4 weeks after product was discontinued these older women still had significantly greater levels of skin elasticity compared to the placebo group. (P<0.05). Researchers also saw an 11-14% improvement in skin hydration and a 6-7% decrease in water evaporation in this subgroup of older women although statistical significance was not reached.
While oral supplementation with CH (MERISOL) significantly improved skin elasticity in the study participants, the authors caution that these results cannot be extrapolated to other collagen hydrolysate and recommend that larger follow up clinical studies be done.
Source: Proksch, E., D. Segger, J. Degwert, M. Schunck, V. Zague, and S. Oesser. “Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” Skin pharmacology and physiology 27, no. 1 (2014): 47-55
© 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel
Posted December 27, 2018.
Joyce Smith, BS, is a degreed laboratory technologist. She received her bachelor of arts with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan and her internship through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She currently resides in Bloomingdale, IL.
References:
- Smalls LK, Randall Wickett R, Visscher MO. Effect of dermal thickness, tissue composition, and body site on skin biomechanical properties. Skin research and technology. 2006;12(1):43-49.
- Calleja-Agius J, Muscat-Baron Y, Brincat MP. Skin ageing. Menopause international. 2007;13(2):60-64.
- Matsuda N, Koyama Y-i, Hosaka Y, et al. Effects of ingestion of collagen peptide on collagen fibrils and glycosaminoglycans in the dermis. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology. 2006;52(3):211-215.
- Tanaka M, Koyama Y-i, Nomura Y. Effects of collagen peptide ingestion on UV-B-induced skin damage. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry. 2009;73(4):930-932.
- Zague V, de Freitas V, Rosa MdC, de Castro GÁ, Jaeger RG, Machado-Santelli GM. Collagen hydrolysate intake increases skin collagen expression and suppresses matrix metalloproteinase 2 activity. Journal of medicinal food. 2011;14(6):618-624.
- Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin pharmacology and physiology. 2013;27(1):47-55.
