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

NCT ID: NCT07345195

Last Updated: 2026-01-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 90 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2026-11-30

Brief Summary

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 human subjects 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 objective is to evaluate the effect of the investigational products on facial telangiectasiae severity.

Other skin parameters will be assessed as supportive endpoints, and differences in efficacy between the two investigational formulations will also be evaluated.

Detailed Description

This is a single-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, one-period effectiveness study designed to evaluate the effects of multiple-dose, daily dietary supplementation over a 16-week period on skin parameters in healthy human subjects. The study population consists of subjects with visible facial erythema and telangiectasiae predominantly on the cheeks, stable for at least 3 months prior to inclusion, and without clinical signs of active rosacea.

Eligible participants will be randomized to receive one of two investigational products or a placebo product, administered as a daily oral dose of 30 mL for 16 consecutive weeks. The investigational products contain the following compositions: Investigational Product 1 (IP1): collagen 10 g, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) 2.0 g, and vitamin C 160 mg; and Investigational Product 2 (IP2): collagen 5 g, MSM 1.5 g, and vitamin C 160 mg.

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate whether 16 weeks of supplementation with the investigational products results in a beneficial effect on facial erythema compared with placebo. The secondary objective is to assess the effect of the investigational products on facial telangiectasiae severity.

Supportive objectives include the evaluation of additional skin parameters and the assessment of differences in efficacy between the two investigational formulations.

Conditions

Erythema; Telangiectasis; Skin Redness

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

IP1 group

Participants will receive investigational product 1 containing collagen (10 g/ 30 mL), MSM (2.0 g/ 30 mL) and vitamin C (160 mg/ 30 mL) for 16 weeks.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

CPMSM-HD

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will test continuous administration of investigational product for 16 weeks.

IP2 group

Participants will receive investigational product 2 containing collagen (5 g/ 30 mL), MSM (1.5 g/ 30 mL) and vitamin C (160 mg/ 30 mL) for 16 weeks.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

CPMSM-LD

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will test continuous administration of the investigational product for 16 weeks.

Placebo group

Placebo group participants will receive placebo syrup without active ingredients (0 mg of collagen, 0 mg of MSM and 0 mg of vitamin C), 30 mL/daily for 16 weeks.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will test continuous administration of placebo product for 16 weeks.

Interventions

CPMSM-HD

Participants will test continuous administration of investigational product for 16 weeks.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

CPMSM-LD

Participants will test continuous administration of the investigational product for 16 weeks.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo

Participants will test continuous administration of placebo product for 16 weeks.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Other Intervention Names

Investigational product 1; Investigational product 2

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Caucasian female volunteers aged 35 to 65 years at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF).
• Signed Informed Consent Form (ICF).
• Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I-IV.
• Presence of visible signs of skin ageing.
• Presence of visible facial telangiectasias, primarily on the cheeks.
• Presence of facial erythema with a baseline score ≤ 3 on the 5-point Clinical Erythema Assessment (CEA) scale.
• Stable erythema-prone facial skin for at least 3 months prior to study 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 throughout the study.
• Not initiate or modify oestrogen or progesterone therapies during the study.
• Maintain the same cosmetic and skincare routine and comply with sun protection guidelines throughout the study.
• Avoid rejuvenation treatments during the study.
• Refrain from consuming food supplements containing collagen or other protein-based supplements, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), or anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant compounds with a known or potential impact on skin inflammation or vascular response for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Vegan diet.
• Heavy smoking or frequent alcohol-induced flushing.
• Occupational or hobby-related excessive heat exposure (e.g. chefs, sauna workers) likely to interfere with vascular stability.
• 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
• 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:

• Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM);
• Collagen or other protein-based supplements;
• Anti-inflammatory supplements (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.
• 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, including but not limited to acne, perioral dermatitis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or lupus.
• Skin pigmentation disorders at the assessment sites.
• Active rosacea within 3 months prior to study entry, defined as the presence of papules/pustules, frequent flushing episodes typical of rosacea, or ocular involvement.
• Frequent vasomotor hot flushes (e.g. perimenopausal or menopausal), which may interfere with erythema assessments.
• Use of medications affecting skin or vascular reactivity, including but not limited to: systemic corticosteroids, anticoagulants (e.g. coumarins, heparin), vasodilators (e.g. hydralazine, nitroglycerin), antibiotics with potential to affect erythema or vascular response, immunomodulators, regular or long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Use of systemic retinoids within 3 months prior to study entry.
• Changes of skin care routine regimen within 4 weeks prior to study entry.
• Use of highly concentrated topical products (>15% azelaic acid, 10% vitamin C…) affecting inflammatory or vascular facial responses 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.
• Known or suspected allergy to any ingredient of the investigational product(s).

• Minimum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Tosla d.o.o.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Slovenian Research Agency

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

VIST - Faculty of Applied Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Katja Žmitek, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Head of Reasearch Group

Locations

VIST - Faculty of Applied Sciences, Institute of Cosmetics

Ljubljana, , Slovenia

Countries

Slovenia

Central Contacts

Katja Žmitek, PhD

Role: CONTACT

katja.zmitek@vist.si

0038612831700

Janko Žmitek, PhD

Role: CONTACT

kozmetika@vist.si

0038612831700

Facility Contacts

Katja Zmitek, PhD

Role: primary

katja.zmitek@vist.si

002831700

Other Identifiers

VIST TO-COSKIN4 12-2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id