Oral Collagen and Glutathione Supplementation for Skin Health: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v8i6.2824Keywords:
glutathione, oral collagen, skin aging, skin health, skin pigmentationAbstract
Oral collagen and glutathione supplements are increasingly used to support skin health, but clinical evidence varies by ingredient, formulation, dose, duration, and outcome. To systematically evaluate the clinical effectiveness, safety, and quality of evidence for oral collagen and glutathione supplementation in relation to skin health. A systematic literature review following PRISMA 2020 searched six primary electronic sources (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Wiley Online Library, and Taylor & Francis), with Google Scholar used as an additional source, for primary studies published from 2021 to 2026. Thirty-three articles met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist, and thematic mapping was performed with VOSviewer. Evidence was dominated by collagen supplementation: 25 studies assessed hydration or skin barrier function, 24 elasticity, and 21 wrinkles. Glutathione studies more often assessed pigmentation, melanin index, and skin brightness. Short-term safety was generally favourable, with mostly mild and transient adverse events. Most included studies had good methodological quality, although allocation concealment and blinding were not always fully reported. VOSviewer identified skin hydration, collagen peptides, skin elasticity, and skin aging as the most prominent themes.
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