Drinkable Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Appearance in Eight Weeks, Says Study -- What Are The Side Effects?

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A new study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology has found that drinking oral collagen supplements help improve the skin of women in as early as eight weeks.

Collagen, according to Elle is from the word “kolla,” which is Greek for glue, is the most abundant form of protein found in a human body. It is the main component of connective tissue, helping to cement cells together to give skin its structure and elasticity.

Production of this body protein begins to decline in women at a rate of 1 percent per year starting in their mid-20s, and dramatically decreases as they reach their 40s and 50s. Although this decline is a natural body phenomenon, it can be aggravated by outside factors such as exposure to the sun. Some of the effects that low collagen levels bring include dryness, sagging, dullness and a loss of the skin's plumpness.

Collagen's Effects

The researchers investigated the effects of orally taken collagen peptides on skin hydration and the dermal collagen network, and ran two placebo-controlled trials wherein participants took oral collagen supplements, reports Skin Inc.

Using examination methods such as corneometry, high-resolution ultrasound, reflectance confocal microscopy and and ex vivo experiment, the researchers found that the orally taken collagen peptides were effective in increasing skin hydration, and a decrease in the fragmentation of the collagen networks in skin in as early as eight weeks.

They also found that the effects of collagen peptide supplementation lasted up to four weeks after stopping the intake of supplements.

“Collagen peptides are used as a bioactive ingredient in nutricosmetic products and have been shown in preclinical studies to improve skin barrier function, to induce the synthesis of collagen and hyaluronic acid, and to promote fibroblast growth and migration,” the researchers wrote in the study.

Side Effects

While the researchers noted no adverse effects from taking oral collagen supplements, experts from different fields warn of possible side effects that supplementation might bring, reports Live Strong.

MedlinePlus, a website supported by the National Institutes of Health said that collagen tablets that are coming from marine sources such as shell fish and shark cartilage contain a high amount of calcium. Too much calcium in the body causes constipation, bone pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abnormal heart rhythms.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases also warn of possible hypersensitivity reactions from taking collagen supplements. 

MedlinePlus added that taking oral collagen supplements might also leave a bad taste in the mouth. Although it can be mixed with fruit juice to help mask the unpleasant taste and odor, acidic fruit juices should be avoided as they can lower the supplement's potency.