The Effect of 16-week Dietary Intake of Food Supplements Containing Collagen and MSM on Skin (TO-COSKIN3)

The Effect of 16-week Dietary Intake of Food Supplements Containing Collagen on Dermis Density and Other Skin Parameters: Double Blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomised Five-way Study Comparing the Efficacy of Four Test Products

The aim of the study is to compare the effects of multiple-dose 16 weeks daily dietary supplementation with 5 g or 3 g of collagen in combination with 1 g or 1.5 g of MSM and 80 mg vitamin C (see 1.2. Investigational and placebo product profile) on skin in healthy human subjects in comparison to placebo product. The main objective is to show that test products have beneficial effects on dermis density, and also on other skin parameters and to investigate differences in the effects among test products.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Wrinkles; Skin Elasticity; Dermis Density; Dermis Thickness; Skin Texture; Skin Redness
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Placebo syrup; Dietary supplement: ColMSM-HL; Dietary supplement: ColMSM-LH; Dietary supplement: ColMSM-LL; Dietary supplement: Col-L

Detailed Description

Single centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, one-period effectiveness study will include 135 subjects. Subjects will be divided in five groups, 27 in each. Test group 1 (IP1 group) will receive investigational product 1 (IP1, daily dose 25 mL: collagen 5 g, MSM: 1,0 g, vitamin C: 80 mg), test group 2 (IP2 group) will receive investigational product 2 (IP2, daily dose 25 mL: collagen 3 g, MSM: 1,5 g, vitamin C: 80 mg), test group 3 (IP3 group) will receive investigational product 3 (IP3, daily dose 25 mL: collagen 3 g, MSM: 1,0 g, vitamin C: 80 mg), test group 4 (IP4 group will receive investigational product 4 (IP4, daily dose 25 mL: collagen 3 g, vitamin C: 80 mg) and the placebo group will receive placebo product without those active ingredients (25 mL: 0 g collagen, 0 g MSM). Participants will test continuous administration of placebo or investigational products for 16 weeks to demonstrate and assess multiple-dose effects.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 139
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Slovenia
  • Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1000
    • VIST - Faculty of Applied Sciences, Institute of Cosmetics

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Caucasian female volunteers aged between 40 and 65 years at the time of the signature of Informed consent form (ICF),
• Signed Informed consent form (ICF),
• Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I-IV,
• Signs of skin aging,
• In good general health condition,
• BMI < 35
• Willingness to avoid a consumption of any food supplements containing methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), antioxidants, collagen and other protein-based food supplements during the study,
• Willingness to follow all study procedures and keeping a diary during the study (to follow their compliance and palatability).
• Willingness to maintain their living habits and to not begin or change any oestrogen or progesterone therapies,
• Willingness to avoid shaving/depilation of their arms during the study,
• Willingness not to change cosmetic treatment routine during the study,
• Willingness to avoid rejuvenation treatments during the study.

Exclusion criteria:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding,
• Known or suspected allergy to any ingredient of the tested products,
• Changes in dietary habits and dietary supplementation in the last three months prior to inclusion,
• Regular use of food supplements containing MSM, antioxidants, collagen or other protein-based food supplements in the last three months prior to inclusion,
• Veganism,
• Changes in cosmetic facial and body care routine in the last month prior to inclusion,
• Diagnosed and uncontrolled/untreated/unregulated disease,
• Any clinically significant history of serious metabolic disease, digestive tract disease, liver disease, kidney disease, haematological disease,
• Intake of drugs with any impact on skin reactions (e.g., glucocorticoids, antihistamines, and immunomodulators),
• Any clinically significant acute or chronic skin diseases,
• Skin pigmentation disorders on measuring sites,
• Anticipated sunbathing or solarium visits before or during the study,
• Invasive rejuvenation treatments (e.g. needle rollers, needle mesotherapy, deep/medium-deep chemical peels, laser therapy etc.) in the last 4 months prior to study entry,
• Non-invasive rejuvenation treatments (e.g. radiofrequency, electrotherapy, ultrasound, IPL therapy) in the last month prior to study entry,
• Shaving/depilation of the arms in the last 14 days before inclusion,
• Mental incapacity that precludes adequate understanding or cooperation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

5

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: IP1 group; Participants will receive investigational product 1 containing collagen (5 g/ 25 mL), MSM (1.0 g/ 25 mL) and vitamin C (80 mg/ 25 mL) for 16 weeks.	Dietary supplement: ColMSM-HL; Participants will test continuous administration of investigational product for 16 weeks.; Other Names: Investigational product 1
Active Comparator: IP2 group; Participants will receive investigational product 2 containing collagen (3 g/ 25 mL), MSM (1.5 g/ 25 mL) and vitamin C (80 mg/ 25 mL), 25 mL/daily for 16 weeks.	Dietary supplement: ColMSM-LH; Participants will test continuous administration of investigational product for 16 weeks.; Other Names: Investigational product 2
Active Comparator: IP3 group; Participants will receive investigational product 3 containing collagen (3 g/ 25 mL), MSM (1.0 g/ 25 mL) and vitamin C (80 mg/ 25 mL), 25 mL/daily for 16 weeks.	Dietary supplement: ColMSM-LL; Participants will test continuous administration of investigational product for 16 weeks.; Other Names: Investigational product 3
Placebo Comparator: Placebo group; Placebo group participants will receive placebo syrup without active ingredients (0 mg of collagen, 0 mg of MSM and 0 mg of vitamin C), 25 mL/daily for 16 weeks.	Dietary supplement: Placebo syrup; Participants will test continuous administration of placebo product for 16 weeks.
Active Comparator: IP4 group; Participants will receive investigational product 4 containing containing collagen (3 g/ 25 mL) and vitamin C (80 mg/ 25 mL), 25 mL/daily for 16 weeks.	Dietary supplement: Col-L; Participants will test continuous administration of investigational product for 16 weeks.; Other Names: Investigational product 4

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change of dermis density from baseline in all test groups in comparison to placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation	Significant change of dermis density from baseline in test groups, in comparison to placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation with study product is expected. Dermis density will be assessed through ultrasonographic dermis intensity measurement. Differences in change of dermis density between test groups under primary objective conditions will also be evaluated.	16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change of wrinkle volume from baseline in test groups, in comparison to placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation	Assessment of the effects of investigational product on periorbital wrinkles after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation will be done using topography measurements. Differences between test groups will also be evaluated.	16 weeks
Change of skin redness from baseline in test groups, in comparison to placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation	Assessment of the effects of the investigational product on skin redness after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation. Skin redness (redness score, variation and uniformity) will be measured using Antera 3D CS. Differences between test groups will also be evaluated.	16 weeks
Change of dermis thickness from baseline in test groups, in comparison to placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation	Significant change of dermis thickness from baseline in test group, in comparison to placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation with study product is expected. Dermis density will be assessed using ultrasonography. Differences between test groups will also be evaluated.	12 weeks
Change of skin texture from baseline in test groups, in comparison to placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation	For assessments of skin texture topography roughness measurements (Ra) will be performed. Significant changes from baseline in test groups, in comparison to placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation is expected. Differences between test groups will also be evaluated.	16 weeks
Change of skin elasticity from baseline in test groups, in comparison to placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation	Elasticity measurements will be performed. Significant changes from baseline in test groups in comparison to the placebo group after 16 weeks of dietary supplementation are expected. Differences between test groups will also be evaluated.	16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: VIST - Faculty of Applied Sciences
• Collaborators: Tosla d.o.o.; Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Investigators: Study Director: Katja Žmitek, PhD, Head of Reasearch Group

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 27, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 17, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): June 17, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 24, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 24, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): January 1, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 2, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 1, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Manifestations; Skin Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Erythema
• Other Study ID Numbers: VIST TO-COSKIN3 03-2024

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No