The Effect of 16-week Dietary Intake of Food Supplements Containing Collagen and MSM on Facial Erythema and Other Skin Parameters

What this study involves

The registry says this study is recruiting. Individual locations may have different availability.

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Age range

40 years - 65 years

Sex eligible

Female

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

Participants

90 Estimated

These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.

About the research

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of 16 weeks of daily dietary supplementation with two investigational products containing collagen, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and vitamin C on skin parameters in comparison to a placebo product. The study will be conducted in healthy women aged 40 to 65 years with visible facial erythema and telangiectasiae (cheeks), stable for ≥3 months, without active rosacea. The primary objective is to demonstrate beneficial effects of the investigational products on facial erythema. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the effect on facial erythema after 8 weeks and the effects on telangiectasiae severity and other redness-related skin parameters. Other skin parameters will be assessed as supportive endpoints, and differences between the two investigational formulations will also be explored.

Who may be able to participate?

The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Caucasian female volunteers aged 40 to 65 years at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF).
• Signed ICF.
• Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I-IV.
• Presence of visible facial telangiectasias, primarily on the cheeks.
• Presence of facial erythema with a baseline score \<= 3 on the 5-point Clinician's Erythema Assessment (CEA) scale.
• Stable erythema-prone facial skin for at least 3 months prior to inclusion, without clinical signs of active rosacea.
• In good general health, as determined by medical history.
• Body mass index (BMI) \< 35.
• Willingness and ability to comply with all study procedures and complete a subject diary; maintain usual lifestyle habits; not initiate or modify oestrogen or progesterone therapies; maintain the same cosmetic and skincare routine and comply with sun protection guidelines; avoid rejuvenation treatments; refrain from food supplements containing collagen or other protein-based supplements, MSM, or anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant compounds with a known or potential impact on skin inflammation or vascular response; and refrain from shaving, waxing, epilating or otherwise removing hair from the forearms for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Vegan diet.
• Following a weight-loss diet or another special or restrictive diet (e.g. very-low-calorie, ketogenic or intermittent fasting), or planning to start one during the study.
• Heavy smoking (more than 20 cigarettes per day) or frequent alcohol-induced flushing.
• Occupational or hobby-related excessive heat exposure (e.g. chefs, sauna workers).
• Anticipated sunbathing or solarium use, or major planned changes in sun exposure before or during the study.
• Planned major changes during the study in skincare routine or hormonal therapy (contraception or hormone replacement therapy).
• Significant changes in dietary habits or dietary supplementation within 3 months prior to inclusion.
• Regular use within 3 months prior to inclusion of food supplements containing MSM, collagen or other protein-based supplements, or anti-inflammatory (e.g. bioflavonoids/rutin, curcumin, EPA) and/or antioxidant supplements with a known or potential impact on skin inflammation or vascular response.
• Any diagnosed, uncontrolled, untreated or unstable medical condition.
• Clinically significant history of metabolic, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal or haematological disease.
• Diagnosed diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2), or current use of glucose-lowering medication.
• Current use, or use within 12 months prior to study entry, of medicines for weight reduction, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, or planned use during the study.
• Mental incapacity or psychiatric condition that may impair understanding of the study or compliance with study requirements.
• Any clinically significant acute or chronic inflammatory skin disease (e.g. acne, perioral dermatitis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, lupus).
• Skin pigmentation disorders at the assessment sites.
• Active rosacea within 3 months prior to study entry (papules/pustules, frequent flushing episodes typical of rosacea, or ocular involvement).
• Frequent vasomotor hot flushes (e.g. perimenopausal or menopausal).
• Use of medications affecting skin or vascular reactivity (e.g. systemic corticosteroids, anticoagulants, vasodilators, antibiotics known to affect vascular response, immunomodulators, regular or long-term use of NSAIDs).
• Use of systemic retinoids within 3 months prior to study entry.
• Changes of skincare routine within 4 weeks prior to study entry.
• Use of highly concentrated topical products affecting inflammatory or vascular facial responses (e.g. \>15% azelaic acid, 10% vitamin C) within 4 weeks prior to study entry.
• Invasive rejuvenation treatments (e.g. medium or deep chemical peels, ablative or vascular laser therapies) within 6 months prior to study entry.
• Non-invasive or minimally invasive rejuvenation treatments (e.g. microneedling, mesotherapy, superficial chemical peels, radiofrequency, electrotherapy, ultrasound, IPL) within 3 months prior to study entry.
• Tattoos, scars, birthmarks, pronounced hyperpigmentation, visible vessels, or an active skin lesion or skin disease at the volar forearm of both forearms.
• Self-tanning products applied to the forearms, or deliberate UV exposure of the forearms (sunbathing, solarium), within 4 weeks before the first visit.
• Known or suspected allergy to any ingredient of the investigational products.

Treatment, groups and participation

The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.

Assignment

Random assignment

Masking

Quadruple masked

What researchers are measuring

Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.

Primary measures

Secondary measures

Other measures

Research locations (1)

The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.

1 locations

Study team and timeline

Lead sponsor

VIST - Faculty of Applied Sciences

Study start

Nov 16, 2026 Estimated

Primary completion

Jun 30, 2027 Estimated

Study completion

2027-10 Estimated

First posted

Jan 15, 2026 Actual

Last updated

Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Official study contacts