Tier 2 — strong

A collagen supplement improves skin hydration, elasticity, roughness, and density: results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, blind study

Liane Bolke, Gerrit Schlippe, Joachim Gerß, Werner Voss

Nutrients 2019 11(10):2494

Bibliography

DOI: 10.3390/nu11102494
PubMed: PMID 31627309
PubMed Central: PMC6835901
Funding: Funding statement (verbatim): "This research was funded by Quiris Healthcare, Germany."
Competing interests: Competing interests statement (verbatim): "The authors declare no conflict of interest. The sponsor had no influence on execution, analysis and interpretation of the data." However, the test product ELASTEN® is commercially marketed by QUIRIS Healthcare — the funding entity — and all four co-authors are affiliated with Dermatest GmbH (Münster) or the Institute for Biometrics at the University of Münster. Dermatest is a contract skin-testing organisation. Commercial conflict of interest despite the formal declaration.

Study snapshot

Design	Randomised, placebo-controlled, single-blind, monocentric interventional trial
Model	Healthy women aged 35 years or older
Sample	72 randomised (36 verum, 36 placebo); all completed
Intervention	2.5 g/day collagen peptides in a drinkable ampoule (ELASTEN®, QUIRIS Healthcare) blended with acerola fruit extract, vitamin C, zinc, biotin, native vitamin E complex — versus placebo drinking ampoule — once daily for 12 weeks, followed by 4-week no-treatment observation
Duration	12 weeks intervention + 4 weeks post-intervention follow-up (16 weeks total)
Endpoints	Skin hydration by corneometry (Corneometer CM 825); Skin elasticity by cutometry (Cutometer MPA 580 — R2 gross elasticity and R5 net elasticity); Skin roughness by PRIMOS 3D optical measurement of silicone replicas; Skin density by ultrasound sonography

What the study showed, in plain terms

By the time women reach their mid-thirties, the skin begins to lose the collagen scaffolding that keeps it firm, smooth, and hydrated. Many nutritional products claim to reverse this — but for many years the evidence for oral collagen was dominated by trials funded by a single manufacturer (Gelita, maker of Verisol®). This 2019 trial tested a different commercial product — a drinkable ampoule called ELASTEN® from QUIRIS Healthcare — using rigorous objective skin measurements instead of self-reported outcomes.

Seventy-two women aged 35 or older were randomly assigned to drink either the collagen-containing ampoule (which also included vitamin C, zinc, biotin, vitamin E and acerola extract) or an identical-looking placebo ampoule every day for 12 weeks. Four objective skin measurements were taken at the start, at 4 weeks, at 12 weeks, and again 4 weeks after supplementation stopped: hydration (via a corneometer), elasticity (via a cutometer), surface roughness (via 3D optical scanning of silicone imprints of the skin), and density of the dermis (via ultrasound).

All four measurements improved significantly in the collagen group compared to placebo. Skin was more hydrated, more elastic, less rough, and denser. Most improvements persisted through the four-week post-treatment observation window, indicating a lasting rather than transient effect. Because the tested product contains multiple ingredients (not just collagen), the trial cannot isolate collagen's specific contribution — but as evidence that a real oral collagen blend produces measurable objective improvements in skin health, it complements the Proksch trials nicely and shows the Verisol findings are not brand-unique.

Key findings

Skin hydration (corneometry) improved significantly in the collagen group vs placebo across all measurement time points (p < 0.05).
Skin elasticity (cutometry) improved significantly in the collagen group vs placebo, with effects sustained through the 4-week post-treatment follow-up.
Skin roughness (PRIMOS 3D imaging) was significantly reduced in the collagen group vs placebo — objectively measurable improvement in surface smoothness.
Skin density (ultrasound) increased significantly in the collagen group vs placebo — evidence of dermal structural improvement, not just surface change.
All four objective skin measurements agreed with participants' subjective self-assessment of skin quality — internal consistency between instrumental and perceptual outcomes.
Effects substantially persisted 4 weeks after supplementation stopped, indicating durable dermal-matrix change rather than transient surface hydration.
No adverse events reported. Product was well-tolerated across the 12-week intervention.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Single-blind design (participants blinded, but investigators not necessarily) — weaker than double-blind for assessor-bias control on subjective endpoints, though objective instrumentation reduces this risk.
Female-only sample aged 35+ — findings do not extend to men, younger adults, or Fitzpatrick phototype IV+ (not stratified).
Modest sample size (n = 36 per arm) — effect sizes are directional but confidence intervals are wide.
Multi-ingredient test product (collagen + vitamin C + zinc + biotin + vitamin E + acerola extract) — the trial cannot isolate the specific contribution of collagen versus the other bioactive components. Vitamin C alone is known to support collagen synthesis.
Product supplied by QUIRIS Healthcare, the study funder — commercial conflict of interest despite formal statement of no conflict.
All four authors affiliated with Dermatest GmbH, a contract skin-testing organisation — independent replication in a non-contract-research setting has not been reported.
Skin measurements taken on volar forearm (sun-protected site), not on the face where consumers most notice cosmetic effects.
Placebo composition not detailed for amino acid content — may not fully control for protein load of the verum ampoule.

Tier 2

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