Natures Way Beauty Collagen side effects

Adding a powdered collagen supplement to a flavored drink, like coffee or a smoothie, can help you avoid its aftertaste.

Image Credit: Beo88/iStock/GettyImages

In This Article

• Collagen 101
• Side Effects
• FAQs

Collagen supplements and peptides are all the rage in the health and beauty world, and they have plenty of research-backed benefits.

You can add collagen powder to coffee, smoothies, oatmeal and other dishes to help support your skin and joints. The side effects of collagen are minimal for most people, so you can feel free to add it to your daily meal plan.

What Is Collagen: How Does It Work and What Are the Benefits?

Collagen is a protein — the most plentiful protein in your body, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and its production decreases as you age. Collagen is found in your muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, organs, blood vessels, skin, intestinal lining and other connective tissues.

Collagen aids in healing and repairing damaged bones and cartilage. Collagen also helps to maintain the resistance, elasticity and mobility of joints and connective tissue.

You can take collagen supplements to improve your collagen levels, and most products consist of hydrolyzed collagen (which has been broken down for better absorption). But these come with a few possible side effects.

Collagen Supplement Side Effects

1. Bad Taste in the Mouth

Some oral collagen supplements can leave a bad taste in the mouth, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Collagen supplements made from marine or cow sources usually have a taste and odor that is not very pleasant to most people.

Choosing a high-quality collagen supplement and mixing it into a flavored beverage can help reduce the unfavorable taste.

2. High Calcium Levels

High calcium levels, or hypercalcemia, may occur as a possible side effect of shark cartilage collagen supplements specifically, according to the NLM.

According to the Mayo Clinic, too much calcium in the body can cause constipation, bone pain, fatigue and abnormal heart rhythms among other side effects.

Warning

Don't take calcium supplements together with shark collagen unless you're under the supervision of a doctor or dietitian.

3. Allergic Reaction

People allergic to fish may have an allergic reaction to marine-based collagen, per an October 2020 report in ​The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice​.

A case study published October 2016 in ​Allergology International​ found that fish collagen caused an allergic reaction in a 30-year-old person with a known marine allergy even when the supplement was produced using high-heat methods.

Signs of an allergic reaction, according to the Mayo Clinic, may include:

• Tingling or itching in the mouth
• Hives, itching or eczema
• Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat or other parts of the body
• Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
• Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

If you have a known shellfish allergy or other marine allergies, it's important to avoid these supplements, as an allergic reaction could be life-threatening.

The Best Collagen Supplements to Buy

These products are approved by ConsumerLab, an independent organization that tests health and nutrition products.

• Great Lakes Daily Wellness Quick Dissolve Collagen Peptides ($27, Amazon)
• Ancient Nutrition Collagen Peptides Powder ($20, Amazon)
• Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder ($43, Amazon)
• Youtheory Collagen With Vitamin C ($14, Amazon)

FAQs About Taking Collagen

Always follow the manufacturer's recommended dosing on your collagen supplement. Collagen supplements usually come in pill form or as protein powder.

If you're considering adding a collagen supplement to your routine, the safest choice is to check with your doctor first. This is especially true if you have any current medical conditions, take medications or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Can Too Much Collagen Be Harmful?

Because there's no Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for collagen established by the Institute of Medicine, it's impossible to say how much collagen you could take before experiencing any potentially harmful effects.

Oral collagen doses ranging from 2.5 grams to 10 grams per day for up to 24 weeks were found to be generally safe with no adverse effects, according to a January 2019 review in the ​Journal of Drugs and Dermatology​.

Do I Need to Take Collagen Every Day?

To see the most benefit, it's best to take collagen every day. Taking 2.5 to 10 grams of collagen daily seems to be safe and effective.

Does Collagen Make You Gain Weight?

No, collagen is not linked to weight gain.

In fact, collagen is somewhat linked to weight loss because it's a protein, and a high-protein diet improves satiety and is tied to preventing weight regain after weight loss, per a September 2020 study in the ​Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome​.

Does Collagen Make You Constipated?

Collagen isn't known to cause constipation.

If anything, it can help support your digestion and gut health in the long run by helping build and maintain connective tissue throughout your digestive tract, per Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

What Happens When You Stop Taking Collagen?

You won't notice any immediate side effects when you stop taking collagen, but you might lose out on the benefits in the long run.

What Are the Symptoms of a Lack of Collagen?

There aren't any tell-tale signs of a collagen deficiency, but there is a group of autoimmune conditions called collagen vascular diseases that are autoimmune, which are likely hereditary, per Northwestern Medicine.

Symptoms of a collagen vascular disease include rashes, fatigue, joint pain and muscle weakness and aches. If you think you have collagen vascular disease, visit your doctor for a blood test.