Sunday Oct 20, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) - Collagen hydrolysate helps skin health, according to a study released this month in Journal of Cosmetics and Laser Therapy.

S. Y. Choi tested collagen peptide supplements or collagen hydrolysate to see how they affect  skin properties including hydration, transepidermal water loss , and elasticity and found the supplements make a significant difference.

The researchers randomly gave thirty two healthy volunteers  either placebo (group A), 3 grams of collagen hydrolysate (group B), 3 grams of collagen hydrolysate and 500 mg of vitamin C (group C) or 500 mg of vitamin C  (group D) daily for 12 weeks. 

Skin elasticity was found better in those who received collagen hydrolysate and those received collagen hydrolysate plus vitamin C.  Vitamin C alone did not seem to render better skin elasticity.

The greatest yet favorable change in transepidermal water loss was found in those who received collagen hydrolysate and to less degree in those who received both vitamin C and collagen hydrolysate.

The researchers concluded "Daily CP (collagen peptide) supplementation may improve skin hydration and elasticity, but concomitant intake of low dose vitamin C did not enhance the effect of CP on skin properties."

Collagen peptides are found in collagen hydrolysate, which is available as a dietary supplement.  Many older women take these nutritional supplements to improve or maintain their skin health.

Another study scheduled to be released in 2014 in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology came to a similar conclusion that taking collagen peptide supplements can help slow the aging of the skin.

The study led by E. Proksch and colleagues from Department of Dermatology, University of Kiel in Germany shows that women aged 35 to 55 years who took collagen hydrolysate which contain high amounts of peptides as a dietary supplement for eight weeks saw a beneficial effect against the skin aging.

The study enrolled 69 women who were assigned to receive either 2.5 or 5.0 grams of collagen hydropysate, which contains collagen peptides or a placebo for eight weeks.  At the end of the study, skin elasticity, skin moisture or hydration and transepidermal water loss and skin toughness were measured at baseline and the end of the 8-week study.  And skin elasticity was also evaluated four weeks after the study.

The researchers found "At the end of the study, skin elasticity in both CH dosage groups showed a statistically significant improvement in comparison to placebo," particularly in older women.

Collagen hydrolysate also had a beneficial effect on skin moisture and transepidermal water loss.

No side effects were observed.  (JD)