Collagen Supplementation for Skin and Musculoskeletal Health: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses on Elasticity, Hydration, and Structural Outcomes

This systematic review evaluated the effects of oral collagen supplementation on skin health parameters through analysis of 10 selected studies from an initial pool of over 9000 publications, focusing on randomized controlled trials assessing hydration, elasticity, wrinkles, and density via non-invasive tools like corneometry, cutometry, and ultrasound imaging. Key findings demonstrated consistent improvements in skin hydration (e.g., via corneometer measurements showing increased moisture retention), elasticity (R2 and R5 parameters via cutometer, indicating enhanced firmness), and reduced wrinkles across nearly all trials, with no reported inconsistencies; dermal density also rose significantly in multiple assessments. Mechanistically, three primary pathways were identified: direct stimulation of fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, modulation of M2-like macrophages to reduce inflammation, and induction of oral tolerance to mitigate autoimmune degradation of skin collagen, collectively supporting hydrolyzed or intact collagen’s efficacy for anti-aging skin benefits.

Source : https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12968778/