Effects of a Combination of Water-Soluble Coenzyme Q10 and Collagen on Skin Parameters and Condition: Results of a Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

Abstract

Skin is a complex and dynamic organ that provides a protective interface between the external environment and the body; changes in skin appearance are often the first visible signs of aging. It is well established that nutrients and other bioactive substances have important roles in the structure and functions of human skin; however, the effects of dietary supplementation of such bioactives are much less investigated. The objective of this randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled study was to investigate the effects of liquid food supplement, characterised by a combination of water-soluble coenzyme Q10 (Q10Vital®) and collagen, on dermal density and other skin parameters in comparison to placebo. The trial was performed on 34 healthy women aged 40–65 that received either the test product (n = 17) or the placebo (n = 17) for twelve weeks. Measurements and assessments of skin parameters were performed at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. We observed improved dermis density, reduced periorbital wrinkle area and the total wrinkle score, and improved skin smoothness. On the other hand, changes in skin hydration, dermis thickness, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and viscoelasticity were not significant.

Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Health and Disease: An Update on the Last 10 Years (2010–2020)

“…These results appear to reinforce the role that CoQ has in minimizing skin aging and are in line with the work from Zmitek et al conducted on human volunteers to demonstrate the important role that dietary intake of CoQ has on improving skin structural features associated with skin aging (mimic wrinkles/poor skin tone/visual dryness). On a cohort of 34 healthy female volunteers aged between 45–65 years, those receiving an investigational product for 12 weeks, based on a liquid food supplement, characterized by a combination of water-soluble CoQ (Q10Vital ® , 50 mg) and fish collagen (4.0 g), reported better skin parameters compared to placebo controls [ 150 ]. However, no significant effects of the supplementation on skin hydration, dermis thickness, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and viscoelasticity were observed.…”

Oral Supplementation with Hydrolyzed Fish Cartilage Improves the Morphological and Structural Characteristics of the Skin: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study

“…In a review study, Vollmer et al, (2018) [ 13 ] reported that oral administration of collagen peptides generally improves the characteristics of aged skin. In addition, Schwartz and Park (2012) [ 23 ], Genovese et al, (2017) [ 11 ], and Zmitek et al, (2020) [ 6 ] reported an improvement in the skin parameters related to skin microrelief and reduced facial aging signs associated with an increase in skin hydration after oral supplementation with hydrolyzed collagen.…”

“…This result revealed an increase in dermis density, greater formation of collagen fibrils, and repair of current damage, helping to reduce the chronological aging and photoaging process and improving the skin density [ 8 , 27 ]. An increase in dermis thickness was also observed and was correlated with hydration of deeper skin layers and with the maintenance of skin homeostasis, thus helping to reduce the damage caused by chronological aging and other factors [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…UV radiation increases the formation of free radicals in the skin, causing DNA damage and expression of matrix metalloproteinases responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. These changes are clinically perceived by an increase in skin dryness, alterations in skin elasticity and microrelief, and the appearance of wrinkles [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Several studies have described the mechanism of absorption and distribution of collagen peptides in the body. However, the dosage used for hydrolyzed collagen from chicken or porcine sources can be considered high, from 2.5 g to 10 g per day, which can compromise adherence to long-term treatment with collagen peptides [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. In addition, collagen has shown problems of solubility in water due to its high molecular weight, more than 300 kDa, which can influence administration depending on the proposed dosage [ 14 ].…”