Do Collagen Supplements Work for Skin Aging?

I assumed that collagen proteins would get completely broken down in the digestive tract, but I was wrong. Do collagen supplements work?

This is the first in a three-video series on collagen. Collagen Supplements for Arthritis ( ) and How to Boost Collagen Synthesis with Diet ( ) are coming up.

My new book, How Not to Age ( ), is all about aging, and you can pick up a copy now from your local public library or wherever books are sold. If you haven’t seen them yet, check out the book trailer ( ) and my new presentation ( ). (As always, all proceeds I receive from all of my books ( ) are donated to charity.)

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Have a question about this video? Leave it in the comment section at and someone on the NutritionFacts.org team will try to answer it.

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Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

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Leroy Johnson
 

  • @user-bj6rl5he1g says:

    This is my personal opinion, your age graceful and it important to take care of your body and also it has to do with your state of mine, the happier you are, taking lots of sunshine, natural healthy diet, and loving yourself and having a great lover who respect and cherish you, lots of good loving, great environment, great support systems. NO STRESS, ONLY HAPPINESS. ❤

  • @TussErase says:

    Great information and stick to the basics, eat a healthy diet, don’t smoke, exercise, and drink water

    • @oskariKN25 says:

      The problem is publics general knowledge of a healthy diet. Many subscribe to the outdated notion of balanced plate model. Many also do not have an exact idea what harm the unhealthy things do to their bodies, so they might think that occasional smoke, drink or chocolate mudcake isnt that bad.

    • @ShazWag says:

      And get good sleep, too.

    • @G-rig6969 says:

      Pretty simple, just have to do it.

    • @gabriel65304 says:

      ..and love everyone, if you can and your enemies

    • @shaunr5450 says:

      Imagine taking health advice from a bald, sickly Hebrew who looks ten years older than he is.

  • @BigLadGreen says:

    Just take Deca, it doubles bodies collagen production and it costs less than the supplements.

  • @pickledbeaker5916 says:

    good, saved me some money right there

    • @__-tz6xx says:

      Funny thing is I got sick and thinking that collegen would help me get better faster bought a $60 collegen supplement. I wish I saw this before I got that. I put it into some nutty pudding and started sneeezing a lot and had a scratchy throat so I am thinking I may be allergic.

    • @kovy689 says:

      @@__-tz6xxJust another scam.

  • @davin8r says:

    I’m so impressed by this unbiased and very informed review! There are so many “influencers” out there who are clueless about the fact that collagen peptides can be absorbed intact and likely have biological effects. We definitely need more quality research, and I wish there were a synthetic/vegan alternative available.

    • @julieowens7095 says:

      Would not eating more precursors to collagen production help?

    • @davin8r says:

      @@julieowens7095 I don’t think so. The collagen peptides appear to have unique biologic effects compared to just the individual amino acids, but more studies are needed.

    • @jakubchrobry3701 says:

      I’m not impressed. Collagen is from animals, not plants. Although I’m vegan and would never take collagen, I was hoping Dr. Greger would occassionally provide some studies showing health benefits from some animal foods. I would never eat them, but that would really show he’s not a highly biased ideologue.

      I question how much I can trust Dr. Greger. I can’t even trust his protein recommendation of 0.8 g/kg/day because I find it impossible to get it that low eating his Daily Dozen and being completely plant-based. If you get 40 minutes of vigorous exercise per day (90 min mod) according to his Daily Dozen, my protein would have to be less than 9% of my total calories. I would have to practically be a fruitarian to get it that low and I would likely suffer from bloating. I like my beans and grains and beans are typically around 25% protein. Dr. Greger can’t even get this right.

    • @jakubchrobry3701 says:

      I’m not impressed. Collagen is from animals, not plants. Although I’m vegan and would never take collagen, I was hoping Dr. Greger would occassionally provide some studies showing health benefits from some animal foods. I would never eat them, but that would really show he’s not a highly biased ideologue.

    • @bigshrimpn says:

      You can get your essential amino acids from a vegan EAA supplement powder such as Perfect Amino or Optimal Amino if you wanted to.

  • @robertpace5 says:

    I love that you are a trekkie!

    • @VeganLinked says:

      So many vegans are! I interview vegans all over the country and I’ve had a few reference Star Trek. You should check out my interview at Pythagoras restaurant 🙂 there’s also some vegan twins I interviewed that reference Star Trek and a few others…

  • @scuba453 says:

    What about joint and bone health and other benefits?

    • @shaneashby5890 says:

      If you want healthy bones then do weight bearing exercises and put force, strain, and pressure through your skeleton.

    • @EatYerVeggies says:

      In regards to supplementation, traditionally you’d want glucosamine and chondroitin not collagen

    • @VeganLinked says:

      Impact helps so impact exercises coupled with a great diet and vitamin D. Obvious things like calcium but even beta-carotene. I have an interview with registered dietitian Jack Norris where we talk about bone density you might enjoy.

    • @ShazWag says:

      @@shaneashby5890 My daughter and her boyfriend are orthopaedic doctors, and they said that this only works until you’re in your mid 30s.

  • @Tomorrowstroops says:

    Serotonin helps with mood
    That’s helpful
    I have slept 4 hours every night for 2 years now, and I cry weekly

    • @rsanghi24 says:

      How’s your sleep hygiene man?

    • @Tomorrowstroops says:

      @@rsanghi24 pretty bad, but now I’m thinking it really could do with my mental health meds

    • @lsauve says:

      @@Tomorrowstroops I discovered that taking a protein powder supplement (vegan organic) before bedtime keeps nighttime anxiety away (~15-20g). Don’t know why, it just does. Maybe it’s really the tryptophan in the protein.

    • @lasvegasbeet says:

      @@lsauve yes, this is also true for adhd people, because protein helps regulate the production of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which are important for sleep and mood regulation.
      yes, def a great tip

  • @chrisogrady28 says:

    I’d love to hear something about vegan collagen, I take it but I have no idea if it does anything. It uses a trademarked blend called ‘VECOLLAL’ which is made from: Glycine, L-Proline, L-Alanine, Gotu Kola Extract, L-Aspartic Acid, L-Glutamic Acid, L-Arginine, the lost goes on for ages…

    • @VeganLinked says:

      Personally I don’t see how Vegan collagen supplement would be any different really. Just eat whole plant foods, a proper variety, and like he said be careful with sun exposure, stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep, foods high in vitamin c helps synthesize collagen.

  • @patrick-louisvincent4360 says:

    And what about vegan glycine supplementation?

  • @margarite60 says:

    Maybe we should just combat agism instead of wrinkles.

  • @gettingstuffdoneright5332 says:

    Save you some time, the short answer is yes, @ 3:47 “On average there were beneficial effects for skin hydration, elasticity and roughness.” He also concludes @ 4:38 “the dermatological community” (whatever that is) remains divided on its routine use “at this time” & suggests @ 4:50 you can also see “positive effects on skin collagen” by not smoking, using sunscreen, and eating a healthy diet.

  • @johns5256 says:

    If you do a follow-up? I’m more interested in how or if high quality collagen supplements affect joint health??
    Different types of collagen supplements & ingredients diverge from skin vs joint health.
    Tia

  • @phillippinter7518 says:

    I’ve definitely used the “eating brains” analogy before when people talk about eating collagen

  • @mdavid1955 says:

    What about the possibilities of picking up some type of contaminants or pathogens from taking collagen supplements?🧐

  • @vinwillcock612 says:

    Do we really want animal proteins floating around our bloodstream?

  • @4850937 says:

    Do a water video: distill vs RO vs filter

  • @AndrewPawley11 says:

    I love this channel!

  • @mchagawa1615 says:

    Thank you <3

  • @AK-qg7mp says:

    How about taurine ? Not needed also?

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