Collagen supplementation was associated with favorable outcomes for skin and musculoskeletal health in an umbrella review of 16 systematic reviews encompassing 113 randomized controlled trials and 7,983 patients, according to research published January 30, 2026, in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
Collagen accounts for approximately 25% to 30% of proteins in the human body and declines steadily with age. Female skin may lose about 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause, contributing to reduced elasticity and joint degeneration. Despite a rapidly expanding supplement market—valued at $1.99 billion in 2021—no previous umbrella review had synthesized the full range of clinical outcomes reported across collagen meta-analyses.
Methods
Researchers searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science through March 6, 2025, for systematic reviews with meta-analyses evaluating collagen supplementation compared with placebo or no treatment. Narrative reviews and systematic reviews without meta-analysis were excluded.
Of 573 records screened, 16 meta-analyses were included. Effect sizes were reported as standardized mean differences, relative risks, or odds ratios and pooled using random-effects models. Review quality was assessed with AMSTAR 2, and evidence certainty was graded using the GRADE framework.
Skin Outcomes
High-certainty evidence showed statistically significant improvements in skin elasticity (1,217 patients) and skin hydration (954 patients).
Skin roughness did not show a statistically significant improvement.
Meta-regression indicated that longer supplementation duration was associated with greater improvements in skin elasticity, suggesting cumulative effects over time.
Osteoarthritis
Among patients with osteoarthritis, collagen supplementation was associated with statistically significant reductions in several pain-related outcomes, including self-reported pain (2,687 patients) and visual analog scale scores (572 patients).
Statistically significant improvements were also observed in overall Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores (1,322 patients) and stiffness (595 patients), although pain and functional subscales did not consistently improve.
However, WOMAC pain and functional limitation subscales did not reach statistical significance.
Musculoskeletal Effects
Collagen supplementation produced modest improvements in several musculoskeletal measures, including fat-free mass increased (454 patients), muscle architecture improved (183 patients), and maximal strength (533 patients).
Tendon morphology improved (127 patients), though tendon mechanical properties were unchanged. Collagen supplementation also did not significantly affect postexercise muscle soreness or strength recovery.
Cardiometabolic and Oral Outcomes
Evidence for cardiometabolic effects was mixed. Fat mass decreased modestly (254 patients) and fat-free mass percentage increased (192 patients), but body fat percentage, lipid levels, and blood pressure did not change significantly.
Oral health findings were limited. A small reduction in gingival thickness was reported (110 patients), but keratinized mucosa width, probing depth, and aesthetic outcomes were unchanged.
Evidence Quality
Using AMSTAR 2 criteria, only one included meta-analysis was rated high quality, four were rated low quality, and the remainder were rated critically low. Common methodological concerns included lack of protocol registration, inadequate reporting of excluded studies, and limited discussion of publication bias.
Conclusion
The researchers concluded that collagen supplementation demonstrates consistent benefits for dermal and musculoskeletal health, particularly skin elasticity and osteoarthritis-related symptoms. Evidence for cardiometabolic and oral outcomes remains limited or inconsistent.
The researchers noted that many studies were short-term and heterogeneous in design, and called for longer clinical trials evaluating standardized collagen formulations and clinically meaningful health outcomes.
“Collagen is not a panacea, but its reproducible benefits, affordability, and tolerability mark it as a credible contributor to future models of integrative healthy aging.”
The researchers reported no conflicts of interest and no external funding for the study.
Source: Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum
