We think Collagen Does Close to Nothing-Let's look at the science

There's won't be many who haven't been bombarded by collagen ads, the new do-all for skincare. We get it. The radiant skin promises, influencer reels, and glossy jars of collagen powders can be hard to resist. The ladies on our own team were starting to consider trying it—so we decided to dive deep and find out if the money shelled out actually does anything.

Let’s just say the verdict is far from glamorous.

At Neulife Nutrition, we’ve always been cautious with trending ingredients—especially those that make vague promises backed by soft science. Two ingredients we actively stayed away from: Monk Fruit (more on that here) and Collagen. Our reasoning for collagen has always been simple: Your body doesn’t make collagen just because you ingest collagen. If only biology were that straightforward.

But now, the science is catching up—and it’s not looking good for Team Collagen.

The Latest Meta-Analysis: A Closer Look at the Science

The most rigorous and recent investigation into collagen supplements was published in May 2025, by Myung et al., in a high-impact international journal. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated 23 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), totaling 1,474 participants, all focused on collagen’s effects on skin aging—including hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction.

Here’s what they found:

Initial pooled analysis showed collagen had some positive effects on skin hydration and elasticity.
But when the researchers zoomed in on only the high-quality, independently-funded trials—the effects disappeared completely.
Specifically, no benefits persisted in trials that:
1. Were not funded by pharmaceutical or collagen companies.
2. Scored high on quality and had low risk of bias.

The authors concluded:

“There is currently no clinical evidence to support the use of collagen supplements to prevent or treat skin aging.”
— Myung et al., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

That’s not a weak statement. That’s a red light from the scientific community.

Why Earlier Collagen Hype Was Misleading

Prior to 2025, meta-analyses in 2021 and 2023 had reported more optimistic outcomes for collagen supplements—citing improvements in skin texture and wrinkle reduction. But here’s the catch:

These earlier studies were smaller.
They did not account for conflicts of interest.
And they lacked stringent risk-of-bias assessment protocols.

The new 2025 analysis finally addressed all of this—separating corporate-funded optimism from hard clinical reality.

In short: earlier collagen hype may have been driven more by marketing budgets than by mechanistic biology.

What About Collagen for Joint Health?

Let’s switch gears. Even if collagen doesn’t help skin, can it help with joint pain or osteoarthritis?

A 2025 meta-analysis on knee osteoarthritis (11 RCTs, 870 participants) found:

Some reduction in pain
Modest improvement in joint function

But here’s the caveat:

The studies showed moderate to low quality evidence
There was considerable heterogeneity (variability) in trial outcomes
Placebo effects weren’t consistently ruled out

So yes, collagen may offer some benefit in specific use cases, like early-stage osteoarthritis, but the guidelines remain non-committal, and authoritative bodies like the American College of Rheumatology don’t currently recommend collagen as a frontline therapy.

Muscle Gains? Strength Recovery?

The athletic crowd often turns to collagen hoping for faster recovery, muscle repair, and injury prevention. But the research is mixed here as well.

A 2024 meta-analysis on collagen and exercise recovery found no significant effect on muscle strength, recovery time, or performance.
Another analysis showed modest improvement when collagen was paired with resistance training—but these effects were not replicated across all trials.

In essence, collagen might help if you’re:

Eating sub-optimally
Undergoing injury rehab
Or have collagen deficiency for medical reasons

But for the average gym-goer or athlete, there's no slam dunk benefit.

Mechanistically, It Doesn’t Add Up

Here’s the kicker—and the reason we’ve always questioned collagen’s magic.

When you ingest collagen (usually from fish or bovine sources), your body digests it into amino acids. It doesn’t magically “know” to send those amino acids straight to your skin or joints to rebuild collagen fibers.

Unless your overall diet lacks the right building blocks (like proline, glycine, vitamin C, zinc), or your collagen degradation rate is high, supplementing with more collagen does not guarantee synthesis.

It’s a bit like eating bricks and hoping they automatically form a house.

Regulatory Red Flags

International regulatory bodies have also raised eyebrows:

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has not approved any health claims for collagen related to skin, joints, or beauty.
The U.S. FDA considers collagen a dietary supplement, meaning it’s not evaluated for efficacy before marketing.
Health Canada and Australia’s TGA both advise caution around unverified beauty claims.

Meanwhile, dermatologists worldwide are advising people to stick to evidence-backed solutions like:

Retinoids
Vitamin C serums
SPF
Lifestyle changes

Because while collagen might offer hope, skincare doesn’t run on hope. It runs on science.

Bottom Line: Should You Use Collagen?

Let’s distill this:

Claim	What the Best Evidence Says
Skin aging	No benefit when funded bias is removed.
Joint pain	Some benefit, but low-quality evidence and not guideline-recommended.
Muscle recovery	Mixed evidence, limited to very specific scenarios.
General health/well-being	No clear benefits, beyond what a balanced diet provides.

Final Verdict

If you're considering collagen for youthful skin, the current best science gives you permission to save your money.

For joint health or athletic recovery, you may still experiment—but go in with realistic expectations, and always pair it with strength training and good nutrition.

The collagen supplement industry—much like the collagen molecule itself—has been stretched thin. And unless new, independently verified research flips the narrative, it’s time we stop confusing marketing promises with clinical outcomes.

References

Myung JH, et al. “Collagen Supplements and Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2025.
Zhao X, et al. “Efficacy of Collagen for Joint Pain: A Meta-Analysis of RCTs.” Clinical Rheumatology. 2025.
Zdzieblik D, et al. “Collagen Supplementation in Sports Recovery.” International Journal of Sports Nutrition. 2024.
EFSA Journal. “Scientific Opinion on Collagen and Skin Claims.” EFSA.
American College of Rheumatology Guidelines. 2024.