Supplementing with Collagen for Skin Health:
How Does it Work?
By Holli Ryan RD, LD/N and Life Extension Staff
Why Collagen is Important for Skin
Why is everyone using collagen? Collagen is a protein that is vital for healthy, vibrant skin.1 In fact, collagen makes up 70% to 80% of the dry weight of skin.2 As we age, the cells that produce collagen fibers slow down, and the remaining fibers stiffen, break and begin to lose shape. The age-related decline of collagen (and elastin, another protein) leads to skin that appears wrinkled and sagging.3,4 To address this, Life Extension® scientists have developed an edible gummy supplement containing collagen peptides (a string of amino acids that can provide the building blocks for larger proteins) to fuel collagen synthesis and stimulate collagen and elastin production in the skin.1 Gummy Science™ Youthful Collagen cherry-flavored gummies combine a skin-nourishing bioactive collagen with skin-moisturizing hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, increase suppleness and hydrate the skin.
Great, fast-acting supplement
I purchased this product in the hope that it would soften the deep lines in my forehead and around my mouth. I was skeptical; I am nearly 60 years old and had little confidence that any ingested supplement would act quickly and definitively on skin that is six decades old. However, nothing could be more wrong. Within 2 weeks I could see visible differences in my face, with all wrinkles and lines softer and shallower. I am impressed and pleased and will not be without this product!
Submitted 29 days ago
By MARTHA
From Undisclosed
Which Type of Collagen Should I Use? Type I vs Type II Collagen
Type I collagen is the most abundant collagen in the skin, and is found throughout the body including bones, ligaments (which connect bones to other bones) and tendons (which attach muscles to bones).3,4 Type II collagen is found mainly in cartilage on the surfaces of joints and other places in the body.4
Topical vs. Oral Collagen—Which is More Effective?
Topical products such as creams contain collagen in an effort to support collagen production and promote youthful skin elasticity. However, these collagen molecules are often intact and therefore too large to be effectively absorbed and utilized by the skin topically. It is more effective to take oral, ultra-bioavailable type-1 collagen instead of applying collagen directly to skin.
What Exactly are Collagen Peptides? How Do They Work?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Collagen peptides are obtained by breaking down collagen strands into smaller fragments.5 A significant amount of orally consumed collagen peptides are rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract as shown by a pronounced increase of these peptides in blood plasma shortly after ingestion.6,7 Later on, these peptides are detectable in the skin.8
Bonus Ingredient: Skin-Boosting Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid has the capacity to bind and retain water molecules. Although it is found throughout most tissues in the body, more than 50% of the body's concentration of hyaluronic acid is located in the skin. As is the case with collagen, the body produces less of it as we age, a factor caused by environmental stress.9,10
Beautifying Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Gummies by Life Extension
Gummy Science™ contains a clinically researched ingredient: VERISOL®, collagen peptides that stimulate the formation of new collagen, as well as elastin, a molecule in your skin that helps keep it smooth and supple.11 Gummy Science™ Youthful Collagen gummies have zero added sugar, so you get all the skin-nourishing goodness without the guilt! Enjoy four of these delicious morsels a day to get the clinically studied dosages of 2,500 mg of VERISOL® collagen and 120 mg of hyaluronic acid.
Try Gummy Science™ Youthful Collagen Gummies today!
- Helps smooth the appearance of wrinkles
- Supports healthy skin hydration
- Promotes youthful skin elasticity & health
References:
- Wu M, Crane JS. Biochemistry, Collagen Synthesis. [Updated 2019 Apr 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507709/.
- Oikarinen A. Aging of the skin connective tissue: how to measure the biochemical and mechanical properties of aging dermis. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 1994;10(2):47-52.
- Henriksen K, Karsdal MA. Chapter 1 - Type I collagen. In: Karsdal MA, ed. Biochemistry of Collagens, Laminins and Elastin (Second Edition). Academic Press; 2019:1-12.
- Sibilla S, Godfrey M, Brewer S, Budh-Raja A, Genovese L. An overview of the beneficial effects of hydrolysed collagen as a nutraceutical on skin properties: Scientific background and clinical studies. The open nutraceuticals journal. 2015;8(1).
- Song H, Zhang S, Zhang L, Li B. Effect of Orally Administered Collagen Peptides from Bovine Bone on Skin Aging in Chronologically Aged Mice. Nutrients. 2017;9(11).
- Taga Y, Iwasaki Y, Shigemura Y, Mizuno K. Improved in Vivo Tracking of Orally Administered Collagen Hydrolysate Using Stable Isotope Labeling and LC-MS Techniques. J Agric Food Chem. 2019;67(16):4671-4678.
- Iwai K, Hasegawa T, Taguchi Y, et al. Identification of food-derived collagen peptides in human blood after oral ingestion of gelatin hydrolysates. J Agric Food Chem. 2005;53(16):6531-6536.
- Yazaki M, Ito Y, Yamada M, et al. Oral Ingestion of Collagen Hydrolysate Leads to the Transportation of Highly Concentrated Gly-Pro-Hyp and Its Hydrolyzed Form of Pro-Hyp into the Bloodstream and Skin. J Agric Food Chem. 2017;65(11):2315-2322.
- Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G. Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012;4(3):253-258.
- Kawada C, Yoshida T, Yoshida H, et al. Ingested hyaluronan moisturizes dry skin. Nutr J. 2014;13:70.
- Proksch E, Schunck M, Zague V, Segger D, Degwert J, Oesser S. Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(3):113-119.
