Ingestible Collagen May Keep Facial Skin Looking Young

In a study soon to be published, scientists at the Nippi Research Institute of BioMatrix (Tokyo, Japan) investigated the benefits of ingestible TruMarine fish collagen peptide on skin health in women aged 35-65 years. TruMarine collagen, a product of Nippi Collagen (Vancouver, BC, Canada), was found to improve a variety of age-related skin characteristics, including more even skin texture and a reduction in wrinkles, age spots, and pore visibility.

For eight weeks, 88 healthy women between the ages of 35 and 65 were either given 5 g of TruMarine collagen or a placebo daily after dinner. The study was randomized and double-blinded. Prior to the treatment, as well as at the 4 and 8 week markers, digital images of their faces were analyzed by VISIA Complexion Analysis imaging software. The subjects also kept a daily diary and took a self-assessment questionnaire at the 0, 4, and 8 week markers.

At both 4 and 8 weeks, the women taking TruMarine collagen were found to have significantly improved skin appearance by VISIA Analysis, as well as self-reporting an overall improvement of their facial skin. Compared with the placebo group at 8 weeks, the collagen group had an 8% reduction in wrinkles, a 7% reduction in the appearance of pores, 5% fewer age spots, and a 10% decrease in uneven skin texture. At the conclusion of the study, 68% of the collagen group reported their facial skin was “improved and better,” while 9% of the placebo group reported the same.

Derived from fish skin and scales, marine collagen peptide has been shown effective at rejuvenating skin and fighting the effects of aging, especially among people 30 years and older. The study is expected to be published in a Japanese journal later this month. The Nippi Research Institute of BioMatrix is a related institution of Nippi Inc.

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com

Photo © iStockphoto.com/PredragVuckovic. Edited by Quinn Williams.