A collagen amino acid composition supplementation reduces biological age in humans and increases health and lifespan in vivo.

Alexander Dakhovnik, Matilde Mantovani, Marie Knufinke, Victoria Brügger, Intan Pramono, Cyril Statzer, Babak Saravi, Oleksandr Demidenko, Yelena Budovskaya, Claudia Bettina Rümmelein, Sophie Chabloz, Collin Y Ewald

Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Collagen supplementation has gained attention with increasing claims regarding its beneficial effects on healthy aging based on clinical observations and lifespan extension in pre-clinical models; however, how and which part of an ingested collagen promotes healthy longevity is unknown. Here, we identified the minimal required unit of ingested collagen, which consists of the proper ratio of three glycine to one proline to one hydroxyproline that was sufficient to increase the motility-healthspan and lifespan of C. elegans, as well as collagen homeostasis in human fibroblasts in vitro. Supplementation in 20-month-old mice improved grip strength and prevented age-related fat accumulation. In a clinical observational trial (ISRCTN93189645, 03.07.2025), oral supplementation in humans demonstrated improved skin features within three months and a reduction in biological age by 1.4 years (p = 0.04) within 6 months. Thus, a ratio of three amino acids elicits evolutionarily conserved health benefits from ingested collagens.

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Research summary

The paper claims that a specific collagen amino acid composition can reduce biological age in humans and improve healthspan and lifespan in model organisms. The research addresses the potential for collagen supplementation to influence biological aging, which aligns with the goals of longevity research.

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