The Potential Impact of Collagen Supplementation in Healthy Aging and Longevity: A Mini Review

Abstract

Collagen supplementation has garnered attention as a promising intervention to support healthy aging and longevity. The synthesis of collagen, the body’s primary structural protein, decreases by approximately 1% per year after age 25, contributing to an aging phenotype characterized by skin wrinkling, joint degeneration, and impaired tissue integrity. This mini-review critically evaluates the potential benefits of collagen supplementation, exploring its multifaceted mechanisms of action that extend beyond simply providing amino acids. Specifically, exogenous collagen peptides stimulate dermal fibroblasts, increasing the synthesis of elastin and fibrillin, key collagen types. Additionally, recent findings in model organisms highlight specific collagen genes as vital mediators of longevity, suggesting a regulatory role in cellular senescence and oxidative stress pathways prevalent in aging. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the effects of collagen supplementation in the areas of skin, musculoskeletal, and metabolic health by synthesizing contemporary clinical evidence and mechanistic information. Furthermore, addressing safety concerns and research limitations, it questions whether collagen peptides, beyond their superficial benefits, can be proven as a legitimate component of longevity medicine to influence fundamental biological aging processes.