Sliced Bread Collagen (2026 update)
Apr 9, 2026
Professor Jayne Tierney, an evidence-review specialist at UCL who checks clinical trial quality, and Dr Emma Wedgeworth, a dermatologist who explains skin and collagen biology. They revisit new studies on collagen supplements. They scrutinise a recent brand trial, debate industry-funded research and meta-analyses, and discuss collagen sources, vegan alternatives, and claims about skin, hair, nails and joints.
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What Collagen Is And How It Ages
- Collagen is a structural protein made by fibroblasts that forms a triple-helix scaffold in skin and connective tissues.
- From the mid-20s we lose ~1% collagen yearly and its quality falls due to more degrading enzymes, contributing to ageing skin.
How Oral Collagen Supplements Are Supposed To Work
- Oral collagen peptides are hydrolysed into small chains that enter the blood and act as signalling molecules to stimulate fibroblasts.
- The supplements aim to prompt the body to make more collagen rather than directly becoming skin collagen.
Source Claims Do Not Guarantee Different Benefits
- Collagen supplements use sources like bovine (cow) or marine (fish) tissues, extracted then hydrolysed into peptides.
- Emma says source differences (bovine vs marine) are likely minimal despite marketing claims about type-specific benefits.