UV radiation (from the sun or artificial sources), poor nutrition and other environmental factors, as well as physiological aging, all cause a decrease in the levels of collagen in the body. This leads to a decrease in the skin’s thickness and firmness, and loss of elasticity and hydration.
A healthy lifestyle, including the right nutrition (food and supplements containing vitamins and antioxidants), can help us feel better and look better, too. Nutricosmetics are skincare supplements that deliver their nutrients internally, rather than topically, to generate “beauty from within”.
Collagen is essential for proper maintenance of skin health, and in the arena of ingestible beauty products, collagen has long been recognized as the star player. Given the trends to complement topical treatments with oral supplements, the presented study provides scientific evidence of the benefits of hydrolysed collagen peptides with vitamins and antioxidants, as a functional food, for the skin.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the effect of oral supplementation with hydrolysed collagen and vitamins A, C, E and zinc, on skin elasticity, density and firmness of the facial skin was examined. Healthy females ranging in age from 40 to 60 years took a daily supplement of 10g collagen peptides with vitamins for 90 days.
The antioxidants used in the study (vitamins A, C, E & zinc), provide protection from free radical damage and inflammation, which have a negative effect on collagen synthesis. In addition, Vitamin C is essential in collagen synthesis (it promotes the hydroxylation of the amino acids proline and lysine into hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine.)
Treatment with collagen peptides and vitamins (antioxidants) for 90 days resulted in the following effects:
- Increase in skin hydration
- Increase in skin elasticity
- Visible reduction in the depth of wrinkles and fine lines
- Improvement in the structure (thickness) of the dermis
- Visible reduction in the size and number of pores in 81% of the those who took the hydrolysed collagen and vitamin product
72% of the group receiving a placebo presented with a visible increase in the size and number of pores during the 90 days study period.
This study showed that a hydrolysed collagen based oral supplement with vitamins and antioxidants is effective in the overall improvement in aged skin conditions.
Reference:
Campos, P., et al. (2015). An Oral Supplementation Based on Hydrolyzed Collagen and Vitamins Improves Skin Elasticity and Dermis Echogenicity: A Clinical Placebo-Controlled Study. Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics, vol. 4, issue 3, pp. 2 – 6. [Available at: https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/an-oral-supplementation-based-on-hydrolyzed-collagen-and-vitamins-improves-skin-elasticity-and-dermis-echogenicity-a-clinical-placebocontrolled-study-2167-065X-1000142.php?aid=58654]
