Tier 2 — strong

An insight into the changes in skin texture and properties following dietary intervention with a nutricosmeceutical containing a blend of collagen bioactive peptides and antioxidants

Licia Genovese, Andrea Corbo, Sara Sibilla

Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 2017 30(3):146–158

Bibliography

DOI: 10.1159/000464470
PubMed: PMID 28528342
Funding: Funding statement (verbatim): "The study was funded by MINERVA Research Labs (London, UK)."
Competing interests: Competing interests statement (verbatim): "The nutricosmeceutical supplement (GOLD COLLAGEN® FORTE) and placebo used in this study were provided by MINERVA Research Labs (London, UK). […] The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest regarding the material discussed in this manuscript." However, co-authors Licia Genovese and Sara Sibilla are affiliated with Minerva Research Labs — the commercial manufacturer and marketer of GOLD COLLAGEN® FORTE and the study funder. Andrea Corbo was affiliated with Master II livello Università degli Studi di Camerino at time of publication. Substantial commercial conflict of interest despite the formal declaration.

Study snapshot

Design	Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with independent aesthetic clinic assessment
Model	Healthy adult female volunteers
Sample	120 randomised (60 verum, 60 placebo)
Intervention	50 mL/day of GOLD COLLAGEN® FORTE liquid nutricosmeceutical (collagen bioactive peptides plus antioxidants) versus 50 mL/day matched placebo, once daily for 90 days
Duration	90 days
Endpoints	Skin elasticity (Young's elasticity modulus); Skin architecture (histological analysis via biopsy); Self-assessment questionnaires on skin quality

What the study showed, in plain terms

Nutricosmeceuticals — supplements marketed for cosmetic benefit — became a large commercial category in the 2010s. Most contained a blend of collagen peptides with vitamins, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds. Because these products were being sold at scale, independent controlled evidence was needed to move beyond marketing claims.

This 90-day trial recruited 120 healthy women and randomly assigned them to drink either the GOLD COLLAGEN® FORTE liquid supplement or an identical-looking placebo each day. What made this trial unusual was that it went beyond surface skin measurements to include actual histological analysis of skin biopsies at the end of the trial — meaning the researchers could look at the skin's internal structure directly, not just measure hydration or elasticity from the outside. Skin elasticity was measured objectively using Young's elasticity modulus.

Women taking the collagen-antioxidant blend showed a 7.5% increase in skin elasticity — a statistically significant improvement over placebo — and histological analysis of skin biopsies showed improvements in skin architecture. Self-assessment questionnaires supported the objective findings: women in the treatment group reported noticing skin improvements themselves. As with all nutricosmeceutical trials, the multi-ingredient formula (collagen plus antioxidants) prevents isolating the specific effect of collagen alone, and the study was funded by the product's manufacturer — but the histological confirmation adds a layer of biological plausibility that many skin trials lack.

Key findings

Skin elasticity (Young's elasticity modulus) increased by +7.5% in the verum group vs placebo after 90 days (p ≤ 0.001).
Histological analysis of skin biopsies showed improvement in skin architecture in the treatment group — direct microscopic evidence of dermal-level change, not just surface measurement.
Self-assessment questionnaires showed positive patient-reported feedback on skin health improvements in the verum group.
Trial spans a substantial female sample (n = 120, 60 per arm) — larger than most collagen skin trials.
Effects consistent with photo-protective benefits, per the authors' interpretation.
No adverse events reported.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Multi-ingredient product (collagen bioactive peptides plus antioxidants) — cannot isolate specific contribution of collagen versus antioxidants. Vitamin C and other antioxidants are independently known to affect collagen synthesis.
Substantial commercial conflict of interest — funded by Minerva Research Labs, and two of three co-authors are Minerva employees. GOLD COLLAGEN® FORTE is a Minerva commercial product.
Female-only sample — no data on male response.
Ethnicity, Fitzpatrick phototype distribution, and age range of participants require verification from the full PDF.
Precise histological outcome metrics not surfaced in the extracted PDF text — the qualitative improvement in "skin architecture" is stated but not quantified in the abstract.
Independent aesthetic clinic conducted the trial (potentially reducing bias) but was funded by the manufacturer.
90-day duration adequate for skin remodelling but does not address whether effects persist post-discontinuation.

Tier 2

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

Liane Bolke et al. · Nutrients · 2019