Collagen pills for skin — the industry-funding catch
Do collagen supplements actually improve your skin? A 2025 meta-analysis in the American Journal of Medicine tested the claims.
- Claim
- COLLAGEN PILLS WORK?
- Catch
- INDUSTRY FUNDED
- Verdict
- A CLUE, NOT A CURE
The study: 23 randomized controlled trials, 1,474 participants. Searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane through June 14, 2024. Collagen was compared with placebo for skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkles.
Across all 23 trials, collagen significantly improved all three measures. But the subgroup analysis by funding source revealed a stark split: trials funded by pharmaceutical companies showed significant benefits. Trials with no industry funding showed zero effect. High-quality studies also showed no significant effect, while low-quality studies showed benefit in elasticity only.
The authors' conclusion: there is currently no clinical evidence to support the use of collagen supplements to prevent or treat skin aging.
SOURCES
- Myung SK, Park Y. Effects of Collagen Supplements on Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. American Journal of Medicine. 2025;138(9):1234-1242. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2025.04.034. PMID: 40324552.
For information only, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting supplements.
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