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CatalyticDragon t1_j27tjmr wrote

Eating collagen, smearing it on your face, rubbing it into your hands, does absolutely nothing. When you eat it your digestive system breaks it down into amino acids as with any other protein.

Your body (fibroblasts) synthesizes collagen from amino acids, primarily glycine-proline-X or glycine-X-hydroxyproline. It makes as much as it needs or as much as it can. You don't push more into your cells through consumption or osmosis.

There is as much science behind collagen supplements or cremes as there is behind eating a bear's gall bladder for sexual potency.

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DooDooSlinger t1_j29bs9e wrote

This is not established. Several studies point towards dermatological or joint health application for instance.

https://europepmc.org/article/med/30681787?crsi=662497074&cicada_org_src=healthwebmagazine.com&cicada_org_mdm=direct&client=bot&client=bot

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12937-016-0130-8

https://www.iomcworld.org/open-access/efficacy-of-oral-collagen-in-joint-pain-osteoarthritis-and-rheumatoid-arthritis-46863.html

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CatalyticDragon t1_j2bl2g5 wrote

The second "study" was by a supplement company and used self reporting of pain (WOMAC). Zero evidence to suggest the collagen supplements drove that outcome.

Are the others any better?

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Vitztlampaehecatl t1_j29sbqo wrote

But if you eat collagen, wouldn't it break down into the same amino acids that it could later be rebuilt from?

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YandyTheGnome t1_j2aaacy wrote

It would, but that's no indicator that it would be rebuilt into the same proteins, especially not targeting a specific area.

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