The Study
The Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Collagen and Vitamin C and Their Combination with Hyaluronic Acid on Skin Density, Texture and Other Parameters: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
This study is like a test where some women got a special drink and others got a fake drink. Since the groups were chosen randomly and no one knew who got what, we can trust that any changes in their skin were because of the drink. So we can say the drink caused improvements in skin thickness and wrinkles, but not in other things like bounce or moisture.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested if taking collagen with vitamin C every day for 4 months helped skin in women aged 40-65. They measured skin thickness, wrinkles, and roughness.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 577 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The improvements are noticeable but modest.
- 2The skin changes are about what you might see after a few months of using a good skincare routine, but without the hassle of creams.
- 3Women who took collagen (5g) with vitamin C (80mg) had thicker skin (16% more dense), smoother skin (10% less rough), and smaller wrinkles (14% less volume, 17% less depth) compared to those who took a fake supplement.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2024
Authors
Katja Žmitek, J. Žmitek, H. Hristov, Mirjam Rogl Butina, Petra Keršmanc, Tina Pogačnik
Related Content
Claims (8)
Taking 5 grams of hydrolyzed collagen and 80 mg of vitamin C every day for 16 weeks reduces crow's feet wrinkles in women aged 40 to 65. The treatment decreases wrinkle volume by 13.8%, depth by 16.9%, and a measure of skin roughness by 8.5%.
Taking 5 grams of hydrolyzed collagen and 80 milligrams of vitamin C daily for 16 weeks does not improve skin elasticity or hydration in women aged 40-65 beyond what a placebo does.
Taking 80 mg of vitamin C and 5 g of hydrolyzed collagen daily for 16 weeks decreases wrinkle volume, depth, and roughness, and increases the density of the dermis in healthy middle-aged women.
Taking a daily supplement of 5 grams of hydrolyzed collagen and 80 mg of vitamin C for 16 weeks increases skin density by 16.3% in women aged 40 to 65. Ultrasound measurements show a noticeable increase of 10.9% after 8 weeks, with continued improvement over 16 weeks.
A daily supplement containing 5 grams hydrolyzed collagen and 80 milligrams vitamin C taken for 16 weeks reduces skin roughness by 9.6% in women aged 40 to 65, measured with 3D imaging.
Taking hyaluronic acid alongside collagen and vitamin C does not improve skin thickness, roughness, wrinkles, elasticity, or hydration more than taking collagen and vitamin C alone in women aged 40-65 over 16 weeks.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.