Elastin peptides
In a 12-week randomized trial of 100 Korean adults, bonito elastin peptide reduced fine wrinkle and roughness measures, raised skin hydration and lowered the melanin index against placebo. A second trial of fish elastin hydrolysate reported a 4% rise in elasticity against 2% on placebo. The 100-person trial had no product-related adverse events. Wrinkle effect sizes are not reported.
- Status
- Dietary supplement in the US. Not approved by the FDA as a drug for any use.
- Also called
- elastin peptide, fish elastin, bonito elastin, VGPG Elastin, elastin hydrolysate, tuna elastin, prolyl-glycine, Pro-Gly, Val-Gly-Pro-Gly
- Taken for
- skin aging, wrinkles, skin elasticity, skin hydration, skin brightening, dark spots
Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on
Shown to help4
- LimitedOne trial found less skin roughness and wrinkle depth on bonito elastin peptide than placebo over 12 weeks in Korean adults.
- LimitedOne trial found higher skin hydration on bonito elastin peptide than placebo after 12 weeks in Korean adults.
- LimitedOne trial found skin elasticity improved 4% on fish elastin hydrolysate against 2% on placebo.
- LimitedOne trial found a lower melanin index on bonito elastin peptide than placebo after 12 weeks in Korean adults.
Reported risks0
No risks sourced yet.
What people take it for, and what was found
Shown to help4
Wrinkles and skin roughness
One trial found less skin roughness and wrinkle depth on bonito elastin peptide than placebo over 12 weeks in Korean adults.
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- In 100 healthy adults, 100 mg of bonito elastin peptide (VGPG Elastin) a day for 12 weeks improved average skin roughness, peak-to-valley values, wrinkle peak height, valley depth and average maximum height, and eye wrinkle volume against placebo [1]. In a second, placebo-controlled trial, the abstract reports that fish elastin hydrolysate improved the number of wrinkles, without saying whether this differed from placebo [2].
- Population
- 100 Korean adults [1]. The abstract of the second trial does not give the number of participants or their ages [2].
- Sources
- [1], [2]
- Caveats
- The abstracts report significance without effect sizes for wrinkles [1][2]. All participants in [1] were Korean. Funding is not stated in either abstract.
Skin hydration
One trial found higher skin hydration on bonito elastin peptide than placebo after 12 weeks in Korean adults.
Skin elasticity
One trial found skin elasticity improved 4% on fish elastin hydrolysate against 2% on placebo.
The numbers and sources
Skin pigmentation
One trial found a lower melanin index on bonito elastin peptide than placebo after 12 weeks in Korean adults.
Doses studied
The bonito elastin trial used 100 mg a day for 12 weeks [1]. The abstract of the fish elastin hydrolysate trial does not state the dose [2].
Risks
Checked, no increase found1
Adverse events in trials
One trial found no adverse events related to bonito elastin peptide over 12 weeks in 100 Korean adults.
Sources
- Seong SH, Lee YI, Lee J, et al. Oral consumption of Bonito fish-derived elastin peptide (VGPG Elastin®) improves biophysical properties in aging skin: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Skin Research and Technology. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.13634
- Shiratsuchi E, Nakaba M, Yamada M. Elastin hydrolysate derived from fish enhances proliferation of human skin fibroblasts and elastin synthesis in human skin fibroblasts and improves the skin conditions. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.7270