In a surprising segment on Good Morning Britain, Dr Amir Khan delivered what host Kate Garraway described as a "shock" with his candid assessment of popular anti-ageing supplements. The medical expert provided a detailed breakdown of collagen's actual effects versus its marketed promises.
The Collagen Controversy Explained
Appearing on the March 27th episode of the popular morning programme, Dr Amir Khan addressed the booming collagen supplement industry that has become a staple in pharmacies nationwide. These products typically promise improved skin health and reduced appearance of wrinkles, but Dr Khan presented evidence challenging these claims.
What Science Actually Shows
"What's happening is big marketing PR campaigns are selling people, mainly women, collagen as something that helps with anti-ageing, wrinkles, all of that kind of thing," Dr Khan explained. "But the evidence does not support that."
The doctor referenced a comprehensive meta-analysis published in 2025 that found once research funded by the collagen industry was removed, "there was no benefit" to skin or hair from taking these supplements.
How Your Body Actually Processes Collagen
Dr Khan provided a clear biological explanation: "When you take a collagen supplement, your body will break it down, your gut will break it down into its component parts, which are amino acids - they're the building blocks for any protein."
He continued with crucial clarification: "What doesn't happen is your body doesn't build that collagen to your skin or your hair. It will take those amino acids and do whatever it feels like your body needs most. So it could be a hormone, it could be an enzyme, it could be anything."
Natural Sources Versus Supplements
While Dr Khan acknowledged collagen supplements are "not harmful," he emphasized the importance of obtaining collagen naturally through dietary sources. The doctor specifically recommended several food-based options that provide collagen more effectively than supplements.
Recommended Dietary Sources
- Chicken skin
- Bone broth
- Lentils
- Beans
Dr Khan advised consuming these collagen-rich foods alongside vitamin C-rich items to maximize benefits. He warned that supplements could become problematic if people believed they could replace a healthy, balanced diet.
The Real Collagen Depleters
When Kate Garraway asked about situations where collagen supplements might be beneficial alongside a good diet, Dr Khan shifted focus to what actually damages collagen levels in the body.
Primary Factors Reducing Collagen
"The biggest depleter of collagen alongside ageing is sunlight," Dr Khan stated. "So being protected in the sun with SPF, smoking depletes your collagen, alcohol does, stress, sleep deprivation, and sugar."
In response, Garraway humorously noted: "Hard to cut all of those out of our lives isn't it? You've just described my entire lifestyle."
Important Exceptions and Clarifications
Despite his skepticism about anti-ageing claims, Dr Khan did acknowledge collagen's proven benefits for joint health and its particular importance for women after menopause. He maintained that while supplements might help in these specific areas, their skin-related promises remained scientifically unsubstantiated.
The doctor concluded with practical advice: "There's no point taking this because you're doing the best things for yourself anyway and getting your diet right with protein." The segment prompted the GMB Instagram page to share a clip titled "Kate has a shock after chatting to Dr Amir!" highlighting the surprising revelations about an industry worth millions to British consumers.
