A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study to evaluate the efficacy of a freshwater marine collagen on skin wrinkles and elasticity
Evans M, Lewis ED, Zakaria N, Pelipyagina T, Guthrie N. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021; 20(3):825–834.
PubMed 32799362 · PMC8176521 · doi:10.1111/jocd.13676
Compares people who got the treatment with people who did not.
- Who or what was studied
- Women aged 45–60 (number not given in the abstract)
- Design
- Randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups
- Dose
- A hydrolysed fish-derived (freshwater) collagen product; dose not given in the abstract
- Duration
- 12 weeks
What it found
After 12 weeks the collagen group's wrinkle score fell 35% from baseline (P = .035) and fell 24% more than placebo on the right side of the face. In a planned subgroup of women aged 45–54, cheek elasticity improved 20% at week 6 and 10% at week 12 from baseline. At week 12 the collagen group also rated overall skin, wrinkles, elasticity, hydration, radiance and firmness higher than the placebo group did.
What it doesn't show
Several results are changes from baseline or self-rated scores, which placebo can also move; only one facial wrinkle result is described as a difference from placebo. The abstract gives no sample size or dose, and the elasticity benefit comes from an age subgroup.
Funding and conflicts of interest
No funding or conflict-of-interest statement appears in the PubMed record. Check the full text.
Summary written from the study's abstract and checked against PubMed on November 9, 2026. How we check studies. Educational information, not medical advice.
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