Cracking the Code: Eggshell Membrane's Rise in Beauty and Joint Health

Eggshell membrane is generating a lot of buzz - it’s popping up in the supplement aisle, especially in products marketed for joint and skin health. 

Explain that eggshell membrane is the thin membrane that lines the inside of chicken eggshells, containing about 90% protein and amino acids. It’s also rich in collagen, making it an increasingly hot commodity for the beauty and anti-aging industry. 

Both topical and oral eggshell membrane products are promoted for improving skin aging, but it’s not clear if it helps. One small study shows that applying a cream containing hydrolyzed eggshell membrane daily for 8 weeks somewhat reduces wrinkles compared to baseline, but these results are limited due to no comparator group. And research on oral eggshell membrane for this use shows no benefit. 

On the positive side, potential benefits of eggshell membrane for osteoarthritis are worth noting. Meta-analyses of 5 clinical trials in adults with knee osteoarthritis show that taking eggshell membrane by mouth might modestly improve pain and function. But it’s not clear if these improvements are clinically significant. The effects may be dose-dependent, with patients taking 500 mg daily seeing improvements, but not those taking 300 mg daily, according to a study sub-analysis. 

Eggshell membrane seems to be well-tolerated if patients want to give it a try – it's been used safely in doses of up to 500 mg by mouth daily for up to 12 weeks.  

Check out our new monograph for more details on other potential uses, including joint pain and muscle strength.