Researchers Jérome Asserin, PhD, et al, investigated the effect of oral supplementation with collagen peptides on skin hydration and the dermal collagen network in a clinical study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (December 2015).
In two placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind, monocentric trials, effects of Peptan F and Peptan P (Darling Ingredients) supplementation were assessed using corneometry to measure skin hydration, high-resolution ultrasound to evaluate collagen density, and reflectance confocal microscopy to measure collagen fragmentation. In the first study, 33 Japanese women aged 40 to 59 years took a formulated drink that contained either 10g placebo or 10g Peptan before bed. For the second study, 106 Caucasian women aged 40 to 65 years took a formulated drink that contained either 10g placebo or 10g Peptan with breakfast. The researchers also used human skin explants to study extracellular matrix components in the presence of collagen peptides ex vivo—the explants were kept in culture at 37°C and 5% CO2 in BIO-EC's Explants Medium containing 5% serum and incubated with 0.01mg/mL, 0.1mg/mL or 1mg/mL Peptan F.
Supplementation with Peptan P and Peptan F significantly increased skin hydration after eight weeks of daily use. Dermal collagen density significantly increased and fragmentation of the dermal collagen network significantly decreased after four weeks of supplementation. Both effects persisted after 12 weeks. Ex vivo experiments demonstrated that collagen peptides induce collagen as well as glycosaminoglycan production, reinforcing the researchers’ clinical observations that supplementation with collagen peptides is efficacious to improve signs of skin aging.
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