Scientific Research

Sunbio, as one of Australia's premier brands in collagen peptides, is dedicated to collaborating with preeminent research groups. Our primary mission is to provide our customers with superior, cutting-edge products that are meticulously researched, expertly formulated, and manufactured to the highest standards. Ultimately, we aim to empower individuals to achieve their health and wellbeing goals.

The team at Sunbio continually strives to create health, nutritional and therapeutic products that customers not only love, but will incorporate into their daily routines. To achieve this, we're delighted to announce a long-term strategic partnership with the University of Sydney, an institution renowned for its robust scientific expertise, research capabilities, and extensive industrial collaboration experience.

 

This distinctive alliance, combined with our ongoing scientific exploration and trials in the field of collagen peptides, enables Sunbio to develop innovative health, nutritional and therapeutic formulations, backed by state-of-the-art scientific data.

In our quest for excellence, Sunbio regularly consults with top-tier health and nutrition leaders and authorities in related fields.

All of our collagen peptides products, are made with pride in Australia, using only the finest ingredients. We pledge that the collagen peptides incorporated in our products are 99% pure and exhibit high bioavailability, ensuring their maximum efficacy for our users.

SCIENTIFIC STUDIES – THE EFFECTS OF COLLAGEN ON THE SKIN

There is an abundance of pre-clinical and clinical reports that provide evidence for collagen peptides supplementation, which supports the enhancement and/or improvement of dermal health via oral administration and via nutritional products [7].

Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of oral supplementation of Collagen Peptides in improving skin condition. The study was conducted in Tokyo (Japan) by SOUKEN on 33 women from 40 to 59 years old for 8 weeks, the women ingested 10g of collagen daily. At the end of the study 91% of the women saw their skin hydration level increased after 8 weeks [1].

A study in France on 47 women aged between 35-55 years old, showed an increase in skin smoothness and hydration. After 12 weeks of daily ingestion of Hydrolysed Collagen, 41% of subjects showed less furrowing, less wrinkles, more resilient, more hydrated skin (3).

Another study was conducted in Lyon, France on 47 women from 35 to 55 years old, for 84 days during 10g of Collagen Peptides were ingested, 5g in the morning and 5g at night, powder to mixed with liquid. After 12 weeks of daily ingestion of Collagen Peptides, 41% of subjects showed less furrowing, less wrinkles, more resilient, more hydrated skin [2].

A clinical test was conducted in order to examine the effects of collagen peptides ingestion on the skin of healthy females aged 40-54 years. In this placebo-controlled, double blind study, volunteers ingested a placebo drink, or a drink that contained 5g or 10g of collagen peptides daily for 7 weeks, without knowing which drink they were consuming.

After 3 weeks and 7 weeks, a dermatologist assessed the volunteers’ facial skin condition. At 3 weeks, only 10% of the placebo group had better skin condition, while this value was 41% in the 5g collagen peptide group and 62% in the 10-g collagen peptide group. After 7 weeks, the value was 20% in the placebo group, but 81% in the 5g group and 74% in the 10g group. These results confirm that 70-80% of women are able to observe the effects of collagen ingestion on the skin [3].

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 69 women aged 35–55 years were randomized to receive 2.5 g or 5.0 g of Collagen Peptides or placebo once daily for 8 weeks, with 23 participants being allocated to each treatment group. Skin elasticity, skin moisture, transepidermal water loss and skin roughness were objectively measured prior to the start of the study and after 4 and 8 weeks of regular intake. Skin elasticity was also assessed at follow-up 4 weeks after the last intake of Collagen Peptides.

At the end of the study, skin elasticity in both Collagen Peptides dosage groups showed a statistically significant improvement in comparison to placebo. After 4 weeks of follow-up treatment, a statistically significantly higher skin elasticity level was determined in elderly women. With regard to skin moisture and skin evaporation, a positive influence of Collagen Peptides treatment could be observed in a subgroup of participants [4].

A Japanese study of 25 women aged 40 and 54 years old ingesting 5 and 10g of collagen per day for 6 weeks, showed significantly higher water content on the skin surface. The viscoelastic properties (pliability and elasticity), and properties evaluated by a microscopic skin surface analysis (skin smoothness, skin wrinkles and skin roughness values) of their face cheeks significantly improved, whereas the sebum content of the cheeks decreased [5]

Studies have attributed the anti-aging and wrinkle-reducing effects of Collagen Peptides to their ability to simulated your body to produce collagen on its own. Additionally, taking collagen supplements may promote the production of other proteins that help structure your skin, including elastin and fibrillin.

Ganceviciene et al. Skin anti-aging strategies. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012 Jul 1; 4(3): 308–319.

Proksch et al. (2014) Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Has beneficial Effects on Human Skin Physiology: A Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2014; 27:47:47 – 55

In 2014 a peer-reviewed study examined the influence of a specific bioactive collagen peptides in 114 women aged 45 to 65 years of age that were randomized to receive 2.5 g collagen peptides or placebo once daily for eight weeks.

Biopsies were then preformed using the participants skin tissue and a variety of skin parameters were analyzed. For participants who ingested collagen peptides, at four and eight weeks, a significant reduction in eye wrinkle volume occurred and, at eight weeks, significantly higher procollagen type I and elastin levels were quantified, this suggests that oral administration of collagen peptides reduced skin wrinkles and skin aging.

THE EFFECTS OF COLLAGEN ON HAIR & NAILS

A 2017 study where 25 participants ingested 2.5g collagen peptides for 24 weeks showed collagen peptides treatment promoted an increase of 12% nail growth rate and a decrease of 42% in the frequency of broken nails. Additionally, 64% of participants achieved a global clinical improvement in brittle nails, and 88% of participants experienced an improvement 4 weeks post-treatment [8].

Hair is primarily made up of the protein keratin. Your body uses several amino acids to build keratin — some of which can be found in collagen [9].

When you consume collagen and other proteins, your body breaks them down into amino acids that are then used to build new proteins and compounds [10].

Collagen is primarily made up of 3 nonessential amino acids: proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. Proline is also the main component of keratin. Therefore, consuming proline-rich collagen should provide your body with the building blocks it needs to create hair [9]

THE EFFECTS OF COLLAGEN ON BONES

Bone is a complex tissue of which the principal function is to resist mechanical forces and fractures. Bone strength depends not only on the quantity of bone tissue but also on the quality, which is characterized by the geometry and the shape of bones, the microarchitecture of the trabecular bones, the turnover, the mineral, and the collagen. Different determinants of bone quality are interrelated, especially the mineral and collagen [13]

A 2020 study of 51 women were separated into 2 groups. Group 1 was given a combination of collagen peptides, calcium and vitamin D, group 2 was given just calcium and vitamin D supplements. At the end of the 3-month trail group 1 participants showed a significant decrease in the bone turnover makers P1NP and CTX while those who ingested calcium and vitamin D alone showed no decrease in bone turnover markers [11].

In 2018 German study 131 were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blinded clinical trial over 12 months. 66 women in were given 5 g collagen peptides daily while other women were given a placebo. At the trail those who ingested collagen peptides showed increased significantly bone mineral density compared to those in the placebo group [12].

In a 2014 pre-clinical study scientists found that collagen peptides significantly increased mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells after treatment with collagen peptides for 14 or 21 days [14].

In one study, women took either a calcium supplement combined with 5 grams of collagen or a calcium supplement and no collagen daily for 12 months.

By the end of the study, the women taking the calcium and collagen supplement had significantly lower blood levels of proteins that promote bone breakdown than those taking only the calcium [18].

THE EFFECTS OF COLLAGEN ON JOINTS & MUSCLES

Studies with collagen peptides have indicated that it accumulates in joint cartilage, where it stimulates regeneration of type II collagen, the major type of collagen in cartilage and increases the biosynthesis of proteoglycan [17].

A 2008 American study with 147 male and female participants were separated into groups. One group received 10 g collagen peptides while the other group received a placebo. At the end of the 24-week study the participants who ingested collagen peptides reported reduce joint pain [15].

A 2012 study involving 80 patients with physician-verified evidence of progressive osteoarthritis were divided into 2 groups. 40 patients where given 2 g of collagen peptides for 70 days while the placebo group were given a placebo. At the end of the 70 trails patients who ingested collagen peptides showed a significant reduction in joint related pain and experienced a significant improvement in physical activities compared to the placebo [16].

Up to 10% of muscle tissue is composed of collagen. This protein is necessary to keep your muscles strong and functioning properly [20].

A 2015 study involving 53 males with sarcopenia, all the participants underwent a 12-week guided resistance training programme were supplemented daily with either 15 g collagen peptides or a placebo. At the end of the participants who supplemented with collagen peptides had significantly higher free fat mass compared to participants who ingested the placebo [19].

Researchers of the study suggested that taking collagen may promote the synthesis of muscle proteins like creatine, as well as stimulate muscle growth after exercise [19].

 

  1. SOUKEN study 2008, Tokyo Japan: 8-week study collagen peptides.
  2. DERMSCAN study, 2008, Lyon France. Cutaneous properties of hydrolyzed collagen.
  3. Koyama. (2009) Effects of collagen peptide ingestion on the skin. Shokuhin-To-Kaihatsu 44:10-12 (2009) (in Japanese).
  4. Proksch et al. (2014) Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Has beneficial Effects on Human Skin Physiology: A Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2014; 27:47:47 – 55
  5. Matsumoto, H. et al. (2006) Clinical effect of fish type I collagen hydrolysate on skin properties. ITE Lett. 7. 386 – 390
  6. E Proksch et al. (2014) Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2014;27(3):113-9.
  7. D Vollmer et al. (2018) Enhancing Skin Health: By Oral Administration of Natural Compounds and Minerals with Implications to the Dermal Microbiome. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Oct; 19(10): 3059.
  8. D Hexsel et al. (2017) Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails. J Cosmet Dermatol 2017 Dec;16(4):520-526.
  9. F Yang et al. (2014) The structure of people’s hair. PeerJ. 2014; 2: e619.
  10. G Wu. (2009) Amino acids: metabolism, functions, and nutrition. Amino Acids 2009 May;37(1):1-17
  11. C Argyrou et al (2020) Effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation with and without collagen peptides on bone turnover in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 2020; 20(1):12-17
  12. D König et al. (2018) Specific Collagen Peptides Improve Bone Mineral Density and Bone Markers in Postmenopausal Women—A Randomized Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2018 Jan; 10(1): 97.
  13. S Viguet-Carrin et al. (2006) The role of collagen in bone strength. Osteoporos Int 2006;17(3):319-36.
  14. J Liu et al. (2014) Bovine Collagen Peptides Compounds Promote the Proliferation and Differentiation of MC3T3-E1 Pre-Osteoblasts. PLoS One. 2014; 9(6): e99920.
  15. K Clark et al. (2008) 24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain. Curr Med Res Opin 2008 May;24(5):1485-96.
  16. A G Schauss et al. (2012) Effect of the novel low molecular weight hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage extract, BioCell Collagen, on improving osteoarthritis-related symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Apr 25;60(16):4096-101.
  17. A Bello et al. (2006) Collagen hydrolysate for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other joint disorders: a review of the literature. Curr Med Res Opin. 2006 Nov;22(11):2221-32.
  18. M Elam et al. (2014) A calcium-collagen chelate dietary supplement attenuates bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: a randomized controlled trial. J Med Food. 2015 Mar;18(3):324-31.
  19. D Zdzieblik et al. (2015) Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2015 Oct 28; 114(8): 1237–1245.
  20. A Gillies et al. (2011). Structure and Function of the Skeletal Muscle Extracellular Matrix. Muscle Nerve. 2011 Sep 1; 44(3): 318–331.