A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study

Abstract

The purpose of this randomized, placebo-controlled, blind study was to investigate the effects of the drinkable nutraceutical ELASTEN^® (QUIRIS Healthcare, Gütersloh, Germany) on skin aging and skin health. Drinking ampoules provides a blend of 2.5 g of collagen peptides, acerola fruit extract, vitamin C, zinc, biotin, and a native vitamin E complex. This controlled interventional trial was performed on 72 healthy women aged 35 years or older. They received either the food supplement (n = 36) or a placebo (n = 36) for twelve weeks. A skin assessment was carried out and based on objective validated methods, including corneometry (skin hydration), cutometry (elasticity), the use of silicon skin replicas with optical 3D phase-shift rapid in-vivo measurements (PRIMOS) (roughness), and skin sonography (density). The verum group was followed for an additional four weeks (without intake of the test product) to evaluate the sustainability of the changes induced by the intake of the test product. The test product significantly improved skin hydration, elasticity, roughness, and density. The differences between the verum group and the placebo group were statistically significant for all test parameters. These positive effects were substantially retained during the follow-up. The measured effects were fully consistent with the subjective assessments of the study participants. The nutraceutical was well tolerated.

Keywords: aging; beauty; bioavailability; collagen peptides; corneometry; cutometry; high coverage [HC] collagen complex; wrinkles.

Figure 1

Recruitment of the eligible subjects with the intervention protocol and assessment.

Figure 2

Skin hydration before (T0) and after (T12) intake of study products, as well as after follow-up (at T16) for the test product (grey) and placebo (white) groups. The boxplot shows the mean (×), median ( ), and max–min whiskers ( ). AU indicates arbitrary units, where absolute levels and changes are significantly different for the test product and placebo with p ≤ 0.0001 (****).

Figure 3

Skin elasticity before (T0) and after (T12) intake of study products, and after follow-up (at T16) for the test product (grey) and placebo (white) groups. The boxplot shows the mean (×), median ( ), and max–min whiskers ( ). The absolute levels and changes are significantly different for the test product and placebo groups, with p ≤ 0.0001 (****).

Figure 4

Skin roughness (wrinkle depth determined from the phase-shift rapid in-vivo measurement of skin (PRIMOS) skin replica) before (T0) and after (T12) intake of study products and after follow-up (FU) with test product (grey) and placebo (white), boxplot showing the mean (×), median ( ), and max-min whiskers ( ), absolute levels and changes are significantly different for the test product and placebo at p < 0.0001 (****). ^O represent outlier.

Figure 5

Skin density (sonographically measured) before (T0) and after (T12) intake of study products, and after follow-up (at T16) for the test product (grey) and placebo (white) groups. The boxplot shows the mean (×), median ( ), max–min whiskers ( ), and outliers (o). Absolute levels and changes are significantly different for the test product and placebo with p ≤ 0.0001 (****), p ≤ 0.001 (***), and p ≤ 0.05 (*). ^O represent outlier.

Figure 6

Percentage change of skin parameters between the baseline and the end of the twelve week interventional period (T0–T12) in the test group (blue bars) and in the placebo group (red bars). Error bars indicate the standard errors of the mean. Changes are significant at p < 0.0001 (all parameters except skin density at T16 with a significance level of p < 0.0008).

Figure 7

Percentage changes of skin parameters in the test group between baseline and the end of the twelve week interventional period (T0–T12, solid blue bars) and between baseline and the end of the four week follow-up period (T0–T16, open white bars) for skin hydration (A), skin elasticity (B), skin roughness (C), and skin density (D) in the test group. The error bars indicate standard errors of the mean. Changes are significant at p < 0.0001.