Clinical Studies
Documented effects
Scientific evidence from new clinical studies has led to great advances in the knowledge of how the appearance of the skin can be maintained in an optimal way through conscious diet and nutrition.
The studies recently published in the renowned scientific journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology show that intake of specific collagen peptides has a significant positive effect on both skin elasticity *, wrinkle volume ** and procollagen concentration **.
The collagen peptides used in the studies are produced via a very special biotechnological process where long-chain natural collagen is enzymatically cleaved down to predetermined short collagen peptides with a specific amino acid sequence, and are therefore completely different from unrefined collagen products.
Scientific background
The studies were conducted with the highest possible quality as randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (RDBPC) human observational studies and were conducted within the strictest requirements according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
These new studies, as well as previous studies, have shown that collagen peptides only reach the skin cells in the deeper layers of the skin optimally if the collagen peptides are produced in a very special way to ensure effective effect. Such collagen peptides are produced by a biotechnological process in which long chain natural collagen is cleaved into predetermined short peptide chains with specific amino acid sequence.
* Daily intake of specific collagen peptides in a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled observational study of 69 people shows a significant increase in skin elasticity after 4 weeks, in some cases up to 30%.[1]
** Daily intake of specific collagen peptides in a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled observational study of 114 people shows significant reduction in wrinkle volume at the eye after 8 weeks, in some cases up to 50%. The same clinical study also shows a significant increase in procollagen content in the skin of 65% after 8 weeks. [2]
These significant results from the above double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled observational studies are further supported by a number of previous in vitro and in-vivo preclinical and clinical studies.
Studies show that collagen peptides are rapidly absorbed into the body in their natural peptide form [3],[4] where they are transported into the skin[5] via the body’s bloodstream [6],[7],[8],[9].
Studies show that collagen peptides can affect the proliferation of the skin’s own collagen-producing cells, the fibroblasts [10],[11],[12], and stimulate increased collagen formation [2],[13],[14],[15],[16],[17] and other connective tissue components. Furthermore, scientific studies show that intake of collagen peptides has a significant effect on the outer and underlying layers of the skin in the form of increased moisture balance [18],[19],[20], reduction of wrinkles [2],[21],[22],[23] and increased elasticity [1],[18],[24].
All the mentioned clinical studies can be found here, together with further research.
[1] Proksch E, 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.
[2] Proksch E, et al. Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2014; 27:113–119.
[3] Oesser S, et al. Oral administration of 14C-labeled gelatin hydrolysate leads to an accumulation of radioactivity in cartilage in mice (C57/BL). J Nutr 1999;129:1891-1895.
[4] Zague V. A new view concerning the effects of collagen hydrolysate on skin properties. Arch Dermatol Res 2008; 300:479-483.
[5] Kawaguchi T, et al. Distribution of prolylhydroxyproline and its metabolites after oral administration in rats. Biol Pharm Bull 2012;35(3):422-427.
[6] Ohara H, et al. Comparison of quantity and structures of hydroxyproline-containing peptides in human blood after oral ingestion of gelatin hydrolysates from different sources. J Agric Food Chem 2007;55:1532-1535.
[7] Iwai K, et al. Identification of food-derived collagen peptides in human blood after oral ingestion of gelatin hydrolysates. J Agric Food Chem2005;53:6531-6536.
[8] Ichikawa S, et al. Hydroxyproline-containing dipeptides and tripeptides quantified at high concentration in human blood after oral administration of gelatin hydrolysate. Inter J Food Sci Nutr 2010;61(1):52-60.
[9] Watanabe-Kamiyama M, et al. Absorption and effectiveness of orally administered low molecular weight collagen hydrolysate in rats. J Agric Food Chem 2010;58(2):835-841.
[10] Shigemura Y, et al. Effect of prolyl-hydroxyproline (Pro-Hyp), a food-derived collagen peptide in human blood, on growth of fibroblasts from mouse skin. J Agric Food Chem 2009;57:444-449.
[11] Ohara H, et al. Collagen-derived dipeptide, proline-hydroxyproline, stimulates cell proliferation and hyaluronic acid synthesis in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. J Dermatol 2010;37(4):330-338.
[12] Postlethwaite AE, et al. Chemotactic attraction of human fibroblasts to type I, II and III collagen and collagen-derived peptides. Proc Acad Sci USA 1978;75:871-875.
[13] Rousselot SAS, unpublished data, 2012, Clinical study, Cosderma, France.
[14] Matsuda N, et al. Effects on ingestion of collagen peptide on collagen fibrils and glucosaminoglycans in the dermis. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 2006;52:211-215.
[15] Tanaka M, et al. Effects of collagen peptide ingestion on UVB-induced skin damage. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2009;73:930-932.
[16] Zague V, et al. Collagen hydrolysate intake increases skin collagen expression and suppress matrix collagenase 2 activity. J Med Food2011;14:618-624.
[17] Minaguchi J, et al. Effects of ingestion of collagen peptide on collagen fibrils and glycosaminoglycans in Achilles tendon. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 2005;51:169-174.
[18] Kikuchi K, Matahira Y. Efficacy of orally-ingested marine collagen peptide on dryness and roughness of the human skin. Fragrance Journal2003;9:97-102.
[19] Rousselot SAS, unpublished data, 2008, Clinical study, Souken, Japan.
[20] Shimizu J, et al. Oral collagen-derived dipeptides, prolyl-hydroxyproline, ameliorate skin barrier dysfunction and alter gene expression profiles in the skin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015;456(2):626-630.
[21] Pyun HB, et al. Effects of collagen tripeptide supplement on photoaging and epidermal skin barrier in UVB-exposed hairless mice. Prev Nutr Sci2012;17(4):245-253.
[22] Borumand M, Sibilla S. Effects of a nutritional supplement containing collagen peptides on skin elasticity, hydration and wrinkles. J Med Nutr Nutraceut 2015;4:47-53.
[23] Rousselot SAS, unpublished data, 2008, Clinical study, Dermscan, France.
[24] Oba C, et al. Collagen hydrolysate intake improves the loss of epidermal barrier function and skin elasticity induced by UVB irradiation in hairless mice. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2013;29(4):204-211.