Drinkable collagen is a growing trend that celebrities swear by. Collagen production decreases by approximately 1 percent with each year of age after maturity (about age 21), leading to a loss in firmness and elasticity of skin. People are looking for any way to restore or reverse the loss of collagen but can you really drink your way to beautiful skin?
Does It Work?
Collagen is the building block of the skin. Your body naturally synthesizes collagen from amino acids. However, collagen is quite large. When topically applied to the skin, it cannot penetrate very well, and does little more than hydrate. When ingested, collagen does even less.
The only studies that exist about whether a hydrolyzed collagen supplements improves skin health are industry-sponsored studies done by the Rousselot Healthy Choice company for Peptan™ Hydrolyzed Collagen. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled eight-week study, and in another placebo-controlled 12-week study, researchers found that collagen supplements improved cutaneous hydration and had anti-aging effects (Parmentier). Volunteers also self-reported that their skin was softer, brighter, and had better tone. But there have been other studies done to look into other potential benefits of collagen hydrolysate supplements. A 2006 study in Current Medical Research and Opinion looked at whether collagen hydrolsate supplements could relieve joint pain caused by activity. They recruited 147 athletes for the 24-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Researchers found that using a dietary supplement with collagen hydrolsate improved joint pain in athletes. A 2006 study in Advances in Skin and Wound Care found that patients who took collagen hydrolysate supplements had Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) scores twice the rate of the control group. Essentially, the inclusion of the supplement in participants’ diet caused their ulcers to heal significantly faster.
Bottom Line
Collagen is a protein and cannot travel from your digestive tract to your skin. Unfortunately this drinkable collagen craze just doesn’t have the science to back it up. Stick to green smoothies, and healthy foods that nourish your body instead.