“No Evidence to Support the Use of Collagen Supplements”

Brad Stanfield

Aug 12, 2025

Episode description

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Timestamps:
0:00 No Evidence For Collagen?
1:02 Did Pharmaceutical Companies Trick Us?
2:00 Why Pooled Results Can Mislead
6:04 Most Individual Collagen Studies Show a Benefit?
6:23 Collagen Peptide Mechanism of Action
7:23 Collagen Peptides vs Protein
8:20 Ami I Going to Still Supplement with Collagen?

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Here are the links to the research papers referenced in the video:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2025.04.034
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/9/2080
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/12/2/79
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10180699/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31859087/

Thumbnail by James Kelly
Video edited by Troy Young
Script by John Milliken

The links above are affiliate links, so I receive a small commission every time you use them to purchase a product. The content contained in this video, and its accompanying description, is not intended to replace viewers’ relationships with their own medical practitioner. Always speak with your doctor regarding the content of this channel, and especially before using any products, services, or devices discussed on this channel.

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Recognize statistical nuances in collagen studies for potential benefits

The conclusion of 'no benefit' in the meta-analysis was reached because the confidence interval just barely crossed zero, a statistical nuance that may obscure a plausible positive effect.

#collagen

#study

Incorporate 12.5g of collagen daily for health benefits

After analyzing all the evidence, the speaker personally continues to take a 12.5-gram daily dose of a collagen peptide supplement.

#collagen

#supplement

Stimulate skin cell production with collagen peptides

Lab studies show a plausible mechanism where collagen peptides directly stimulate fibroblast cells to increase the production of new collagen, elastin, and hydrating proteoglycans.

#collagen

#skin

Choose collagen over protein for faster wound healing

In a study on burn victims, a collagen peptide supplement led to significantly faster wound healing compared to a group taking a matching amount of a regular protein supplement.

#collagen

#wound-healing

Examine full studies to uncover true supplement effectiveness

The abstract of a scientific paper can be misleading, and the full study may reveal a completely different conclusion about a supplement's effectiveness.

#research

#supplement

Prioritize high-quality studies showing collagen supplement benefits

Despite a meta-analysis concluding no benefit, seven out of the nine individual high-quality studies it analyzed actually showed positive impacts from collagen supplements.

#collagen

#supplement

Investigate collagen effects against matched protein for clarity

A major limitation of most collagen research is that supplements are compared to a placebo rather than a matching amount of protein, making it hard to isolate collagen's specific effects.