Low-molecular-weight collagen peptides supplement promotes a healthy skin: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Oral collagen peptides supplementation was reported to improve skin integrity and counteract skin aging. AIMS: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted to clinically evaluate the impact of low-molecular-weight collagen peptides on the human skin. PATIENTS/METHODS: Healthy adult participants (n = 100) were randomly assigned to receive a test product containing low-molecular-weight collagen peptides or a placebo. Parameters of skin wrinkles, elasticity, hydration, and whitening (melanin and erythema indexes) were measured at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo group, the average skin roughness, maximum of all peak-to-valley values, maximum peak height of the wrinkle, and average maximum height of the wrinkle were significantly improved in the test group. Parameters of skin elasticity, including overall elasticity, net elasticity, and biological elasticity, were also significantly improved in the test group at Week 12 as compared with the placebo group. Moreover, skin hydration and whitening parameters changed more significantly in the test group than in the placebo group. None of the participants experienced adverse events related to the test product. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings suggest that low-molecular-weight collagen peptides supplementation can safely ehance human skin wrinkling, hydration, elasticity, and whitening properties.