Written by the SiWell content team ·
Collagen supplements sometimes show a modest improvement in skin elasticity in small-scale studies, but much of that research is small, industry-sponsored, or lacks a proper control group. To date, there has been almost no research on effects on hair. The short answer: there is cautiously positive evidence for the skin, but the certainty of many marketing claims goes beyond what science can currently substantiate. Below, you can read what collagen is exactly, what research does and does not say about it, and what your body needs to produce collagen itself.
What is collagen?
Collagen is an endogenous protein, a kind of glue that keeps your body supple and firm. You find it throughout your body: in muscles, joints, hair, skin, and nails.
What does science say about collagen drinks and supplements?
Some small studies suggest a positive effect, such as slightly better skin elasticity after prolonged use. But there are important caveats to this research:
- Many studies are small-scale, with a limited number of participants
- Some are sponsored by the industry itself
- Some studies lack a placebo group (a group that takes nothing) for comparison
- There is a lot of variation between studies in dosage, type of collagen, and testing methods
- To date, there has been almost no research specifically on effects on hair
This does not mean that collagen supplements do nothing, but it does mean that the certainty of many marketing claims goes beyond what can be scientifically substantiated.
Your body makes its own collagen, if it has the right building blocks
Instead of taking ready-made collagen, you can also focus on what your body needs to produce collagen itself. Some of these nutrients have an EU-recognized role in this:
- Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, blood vessels, bones, and gums.
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, skin, and nails, and protects cells from oxidative stress.
- Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and nails, and protects cells from oxidative stress.
Nourish yourself from within
A healthy lifestyle remains the foundation: sufficient protein, vitamin C, zinc, and selenium in your diet, and a supplement for replenishment where necessary. Triple A Silicon is a liquid supplement with silicon, selenium, and zinc. Want to know more about the composition? View Triple A Silicon.
Good to know: SiWell is not a miracle cure. If your body already produces enough type 1 collagen, you may notice little difference from the product, and that is precisely reassuring that your body already has this well in order.
Frequently asked questions about collagen supplements
Is there evidence that collagen supplements improve the skin? There is cautiously positive evidence from small-scale studies for skin elasticity, but much of this research has methodological limitations such as small sample sizes and industry funding. Larger, independent studies would need to confirm this.
Is there evidence that collagen supplements improve hair growth? No, to date, there has been almost no controlled research on collagen supplements specifically for hair.
Why should I choose building blocks instead of collagen itself? Both are legitimate approaches. Vitamin C, zinc, and selenium have an EU-recognized role in collagen formation and the maintenance of hair and nails; collagen supplements themselves have cautiously positive but methodologically limited evidence. It's not a matter of right or wrong, but of what best suits your situation.
Sources
- Considering collagen drinks and supplements?. Harvard Health Publishing, 2023.
- Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed.
- EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin C, zinc and selenium. EU-register of health claims, Regulation (EU) No. 432/2012.
- EFSA NDA Panel (2011). Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to silicon. EFSA Journal.
