What to Know About Interactions Between Collagen Supplements and Medications

From pills to powders, the popularity of collagen supplements has exploded in recent years. “Collagen is the primary building block of your body’s skin, muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, and other connective tissues,” says Jennifer Patricca, M.S., RDN. “It’s also found in your organs, blood vessels and intestinal lining.” Because it declines with age and may play a role in injury prevention and recovery from exercise, many consumers have turned to collagen supplements to combat the negative effects of aging and help prevent injury. 

But what many people don’t know is that collagen supplements may not mix well with common medications, particularly if they have additional ingredients with known medication interactions. “Collagen itself doesn’t have a list of medications it directly interacts with. It’s a protein, and our bodies are used to processing protein from food,” says Jobby John, Pharm.D. However, collagen supplement ingredients vary widely across brands and these additional ingredients may interfere with prescription medications. “Collagen itself is safe for most people, but the ‘bonus’ ingredients added to supplements are what may create risks,” says Meg Whitbeck, M.S., RDN. We asked the experts about popular ingredients in collagen supplements and their potential effects when taken with prescription medications.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is often added to collagen supplements because of the role it has in collagen synthesis. It may seem innocuous, but its addition to supplements, particularly in high doses, can affect the absorption of some prescription medications like those used in chemotherapy. “Patients should carefully review product labels and consult with a health care provider before initiating collagen supplementation, particularly when concurrently taking prescription medications,” says Lesly Rapado, Pharm.D., a clinical ambulatory specialist.

Biotin

Biotin is a B vitamin found in a variety of foods, from eggs to fish, meat, dairy and nuts. It may benefit hair and nail growth, which is the primary reason it’s often added to collagen supplements. While it’s generally considered safe, Whitbeck emphasizes that biotin in supplement form may interfere with some lab tests, including thyroid hormone tests and vitamin D tests. Additionally, some medications may interact with biotin by lowering biotin levels in the body. One example of medications that have this effect are those used to treat epilepsy. If you’re taking any of the anticonvulsant medications for epilepsy or other conditions, it’s recommended that you talk to a health care professional before adding collagen containing biotin supplements to your diet.

Artificial Sweeteners

Many collagen supplements, particularly those in powdered form intended to be used in beverages, baking or other recipes, contain artificial sweeteners to add flavor without added sugar. However, Ava Safir, J.D., M.S., RDN, cautions that some artificial sweeteners can irritate the gut in those who are sensitive to these ingredients. If avoiding artificial sweeteners is best for you, choose a collagen supplement that’s unflavored or one without the extra ingredients. Most often, unflavored collagen supplements will list collagen peptides as a single ingredient and will be the best choice for those looking to avoid artificial sweeteners in the diet.

Herbal Extracts

Herbal extracts like turmeric and ginseng are often added to collagen supplements and may interact with prescription medications like blood thinners and blood pressure medications, says Safir. Because the types of herbs added to collagen supplements are not standardized and quantities vary across collagen supplement brands, it’s essential to consult with your health care provider before starting a supplement with these additional ingredients.

Other Ingredients and Additives

Some collagen supplements include forms of vitamins that have the potential to interact with prescription medications. For example, nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 that may interact with some blood pressure medications. Other ingredients like betaine anhydrous (trimethylglycine) affect homocysteine levels, which can potentially interact with drugs also involved in homocysteine metabolism.

Safety Tips

Dietary supplements are not regulated in the same way as food and should be scrutinized closely before adding them to the diet. Follow these recommendations before choosing a collagen supplement:

• Look for independently tested or verified: Review supplement labels to confirm they have been independently tested to guarantee that what the supplement claims to contain is truly what’s found in each serving. Certifications from NSF, Informed Sport, ConsumerLab or USP are good places to start when it comes to independent verification. Otherwise, contact the manufacturer of the supplement and ask for verification of independent testing. A certificate of analysis report is often readily available from reputable companies who conduct independent testing.
• Check the ingredient list: Collagen supplements vary significantly when it comes to extra ingredients added to enhance their effectiveness. Some contain additional vitamins, minerals or herbs that may interact with other supplements or medications you’re taking. “Read the entire label of the collagen supplement,” says John. “Don’t just look at the word ‘collagen.’ See what other vitamins, minerals or herbs are included and in what amounts.”
• Know the source of collagen: Collagen supplements can be made from a variety of animal sources, including bovine or marine collagen. “Check the source of collagen if you have food allergies (e.g., avoid marine collagen if you have fish/shellfish allergies),” says Safir.
• Separate medications and supplements: “Some medications, particularly certain thyroid medications, need to be taken on an empty stomach to be absorbed properly,” says John. “Since collagen is a protein and is essentially ‘food,’ taking it at the same time as these medications would not be ideal.” John advises separating medications and supplements by at least two hours.
• Talk to your health care provider: “People with kidney or liver disease, or those taking blood pressure medications, blood thinners, immunosuppressants, thyroid medications or chemotherapy drugs should check with their clinician before starting collagen (or any supplement),” says Whitbeck.

Our Expert Take

Collagen supplements may offer benefits to joints and skin, but the variability of ingredients across brands presents potential risks when it comes to prescription medications. Adding a supplement to the diet may be appealing, particularly if it claims to benefit many aspects of health, but Marie Carpenter, M.S., RD, cautions against making multiple changes at once. “It is important to understand how your body responds to changes in supplements, lifestyle changes and eating habits,” says Carpenter. “Pick one or two things to change at a time to understand how your body is responding.” 

You should also pay special attention to the additional ingredients found in collagen supplements. “It’s not the collagen itself you need to worry about as much as everything else in the bottle and the fact that it is a protein,” says John. “Always check the entire ingredient list and talk to [a health care professional, such as a pharmacist], especially if you’re taking medications for blood pressure or a blood thinner.”