Collagen supplements are having a momentand for good reason, too.

It’s no surprisecollagenis beneficial for most people, considering we all have these body parts.

  • Still, like other supplements, collagen’s effect on your body depends on several factors.

Kirsten Nunez, M.S.

This includes sex and hormones, which dictate the benefits you’ll reap from said supplements.

So, if you’re a woman,what can you expectto get from collagen, exactly?

Here’s what the science says.

Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN

Should women take collagen supplements?

  • It also doesn’t hurt that high-quality collagen is safe and well tolerated.

Any differences in collagen needs typically come down todosage.

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And then there’s age, too.

These factors have a cumulative effect, further changing your collagen needs at any given time.

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5 collagen benefits for women.

Since collagen is required in multiple areas of health, taking supplements can help you in several ways.

Supplementscan help support collagen levels, thus improving mobility and comfort in the joints, she says.

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Bones

Bone health is important for everyone, at every stage of life.

“Therefore, [taking] collagen is an important step in supporting your bones.

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Case in point: In oneclinical trial3, collagen supplements decreased bone turnover in postmenopausal women.

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Skin

Of course,skin healthis a common concern across the board, regardless of gender.

But women may experience certain skin changes associated withmenopause.

As mentioned earlier, as estrogen levels decrease during menopause, so does collagen production.

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Want more specific recommendations for skin?

Check out ouranti-aging supplement roundup.

However, “hair is made ofkeratin5, a protein found in collagen,” Gandhi says.

Collagen supplements may help, as they offer two noteworthy amino acids: glutamine and glycine.

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Meanwhile, “glycine7has been shown to support the stomach lining,” she adds.

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Are there any side effects women should be worried about?

In general,collagen supplementsare well tolerated, but some people might need to use caution.

For starters, if you follow avegan diet, you’ll want to avoid collagen supplements.

That’s because theycome from animals, like fish, cows, and chickens.

(There’s also no such thing asvegan collagen, BTW.)

If side effects do occur, they’re typically mild.

you could learn more about the other possiblecollagen side effects here.

Anyone can benefit from adding acollagen supplementto their routine.

In women, it can be especially useful for targeting changes related to menopause.