GELITA: Effective Cellulite Treatment from Within, Research Shows

23 Feb 2016 --- Supplementation with specific collagen peptides leads to clear improvements in the appearance of skin, reports a new study from GELITA.

New research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food demonstrates that oral supplementation with specific collagen peptides developed by GELITA leads to a clear improvement in the appearance of skin in women suffering from moderate cellulite.

Cellulite affects approximately 85% of adult females and is characterized by puckering and dimpling, giving the skin an orange peel texture. The study results show that specific collagen peptides (VERISOL) tackle the condition at its core and help to restore the normal structure of the dermal and subcutaneous tissue. 

The published data confirm the positive impact of VERISOL on skin health and pave the way for a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cellulite. The new application is currently patent pending in Germany, USA, Canada, Japan, Russia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil.

In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 105 women between 24–50 years of age received a daily dose of 2.5 g of VERISOL collagen peptides or a placebo. After only 3 months of treatment, a statistically significant cellulite score reduction was observed. At the end of the 6-month study period, a mean reduction of approximately 9 percent (compared with the placebo) was determined in subjects with a normal BMI. This improvement was also recorded in participants with a BMI of >25, although the beneficial effect was less pronounced (4 percent reduction). 

In terms of skin waviness, a statistically significant reduction of 8 percent on average was observed via skin surface profile measurement after 6 months of treatment. This was even more pronounced in the normal BMI study group, with a decrease in thigh skin waviness of 11.1 percent. Moreover, dermal density was significantly improved compared with the placebo. After the treatment period, the skin tissue became measurably more compact, indicating a strengthening of the connective tissue. Finally, the borderline length between the dermis and the subcutis was notably shorter after collagen peptide supplementation. As the length of the borderline correlates with the degree of cellulite, this measurement also highlights cellulite reduction after 6 months.  

“Even though a variety of cellulite therapies such as massage, weight loss and topical agents are available, scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of these treatments is scarce,” commented Dr Stephan Hausmanns, Vice President, BU Health & Nutrition. “Dietary supplementation with specific collagen peptides takes a different approach: by aiming to restore the normal structure of the dermal and subcutaneous tissue, it fights the cause of the condition rather than the symptoms. We are very pleased with the outcome of the study because it clearly outlines the potential of our bioactive collagen peptides to improve the skin morphology of cellulite-affected areas,” he added.