Collagen improves brittle nails 
In this open-label, non-placebo trial, 25 people took 2,500 mg of bioactive collagen peptides per day for 24 weeks. Doctors measured nail health before, during, and after the study. After 12 weeks, nail growth had increased by 10 percent, by 12 percent after 24 weeks, and continued increasing by 15 percent four weeks after stopping collagen. Before the study, participants reported breaking nails 10 times per month, and just six times per month at 24 weeks. Nail peeling, irregular edges, and roughness declined by half at 12 weeks.
At the end of the study, 80 percent of the women were totally satisfied with collagen, and 46 percent rated overall improvement as a 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Most participants also said they believed their nails were longer, stronger, and grew faster.
Astaxanthin provides sun protection
Skin exposed to the sun secretes enzymes that degrade collagen and elastin, causing skin aging and inflammation. In this study, 65 healthy women took 6 mg or 12 mg of astaxanthin per day, or a placebo.
After 16 weeks, wrinkles increased and moisture declined for placebo while remaining stable for astaxanthin. Inflammation in the top layer of the skin increased significantly for placebo, slightly for the low-dose group, but not at all for the high-dose astaxanthin group.
Separately, in the lab, doctors exposed skin cells to sun-like ultraviolet-B radiation. Untreated cells became injured and inflamed, while cells treated with astaxanthin remained healthy.
Reference: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology; August, 2017, 12393, Published Online
Natural Insights for Well Being December 2017
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