Collagen peptides for skin aging in healthy adults
What it found
In 70 healthy adults, taking a low-molecular-weight collagen peptide supplement for 8 weeks improved wrinkles, skin moisture, elasticity and pore appearance compared with a placebo.
Benefits largely remained 2 weeks after stopping, and no side effects were reported.
What they found
Studies in people
Wrinkles
The collagen group showed significant improvements in wrinkle depth, height and visual severity scores in crow's feet, nasolabial folds and neck across multiple time points. Some improvements partly faded 2 weeks after stopping, but many remained.
Skin elasticity
Elasticity measures R2, R5 and R7 improved significantly in the collagen group at weeks 4 and 8 and 2 weeks after stopping. The placebo group showed only limited or temporary changes.
Skin hydration
Both surface and deep skin hydration improved significantly in the collagen group at all time points and stayed improved 2 weeks after stopping. The placebo group's deep hydration dropped after stopping.
Skin density
Skin density improved significantly in the collagen group at crow's feet, nasolabial folds and neck at all time points, with no significant change between week 8 and 2 weeks after stopping.
Pores and sebum
Pore count and volume in the crow's feet area improved significantly in the collagen group compared with placebo at several time points. Sebum levels on both cheeks dropped significantly in the collagen group from day 10 through 2 weeks after stopping.
Safety
No adverse events were reported in either group during the study. The average compliance rate was 98.648%.
What the authors conclude
“Oral administration of test product confers multifaceted benefits to skin health and represents a safe and efficacious functional ingredient to mitigate the visible signs of skin aging.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that taking the test product was associated with steady improvements across a broad range of skin parameters, including wrinkles, elasticity, hydration, skin density, desquamation, sebum control and pore structure.
- They state that no adverse events were reported, indicating a favorable safety profile, and support the potential of collagen peptide NS as a safe and effective functional food ingredient.
- They acknowledge limitations including a female-dominant sample, possible placebo effects and seasonal changes, and the lack of invasive biomarker assessments.
How it was done
The authors note that past trials of low-molecular-weight collagen peptides vary widely in design, dose and population, making it hard to draw general conclusions. They also wanted to look at less-studied skin features like pores, sebum and the desquamation index.
They randomly assigned 70 healthy adults aged 20 to 59 to take either 1,650 mg per day of a low-molecular-weight collagen peptide product (including 74.25 mg of the peptide Gly-Pro) or a placebo for 8 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout. Skin was measured at five time points using dermatological devices and expert visual scoring.
What it can’t tell you
- This trial cannot show whether the same benefits would appear in men or in people with different skin types, since the sample was mostly female.
- It cannot show how the supplement works at the level of collagen or other molecules in the skin, because those biomarkers were not measured.
- It cannot show whether the effects would last longer than 2 weeks after stopping, since that was the only follow-up point.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Conflict of Interest . The authors have no financial conflicts of interest to declare.
- Authors work at
- Korea Institute of Educational Facility Safety, Republic of Korea
The paper
- Title
- Skin Anti-Aging and Moisturizing Effects of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Supplementation in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Lee E, Ahn DK, Kim JH, et al (2025). Skin Anti-Aging and Moisturizing Effects of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Supplementation in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology. doi:10.4014/jmb.2507.07008Free full textPubMed 40935395DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error