Collagen supplements, known to offer relief from osteoarthritis symptoms and improve skin health, have seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Grand View Research valued the market at US$1.99 billion (€1.84 billion, £1.55 billion) in 2021 and predicts it will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5 per cent from 2022 to 2028.
With this in mind, researchers from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK set about investigating the anti-ageing, beauty and wellbeing claims of collagen supplements, which have been unproven so far.
Credible benefits
A team, co-led by Lee Smith, a professor of public health at Anglia Ruskin, looked at evidence from 16 reviews, 113 randomised controlled trials and nearly 8,000 participants around the world – making it one of the most comprehensive studies looking into the health benefits of collagen supplements to date.
The results, published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum*, showed that if taken consistently over time, collagen supplements are linked to greater improvements in skin elasticity and hydration outcomes. However, there were no statistically significant differences in skin roughness.
This means that collagen supplements provide sound foundational dermal support for holistic skin maintenance, because they improve turgor, tone and moisture, say the researchers. They should not, however, be seen as a ‘quick fix’ for wrinkles.
Smith says: “Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis. Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy ageing, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use.”
Collagen is not a ‘cure all’ but it does have credible benefits
Further findings
Additional study observations revealed that collagen supplements reduce pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis and they also provide modest benefits for muscle mass and muscle architecture.
However, no meaningful improvements were found in relation to post-exercise muscle recovery, soreness or tendon mechanical properties.
*Smith L and Ravindran R et al. Collagen Supplementation for Skin and Musculoskeletal Health: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses on Elasticity, Hydration and Structural Outcomes. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. February 2026
