Limited evidenceJoints & skin

Marine Protein Complex

Fish-derived protein and mucopolysaccharide blends taken for thinning hair. Several placebo-controlled trials are positive, but all of them come from the manufacturer of a single branded ingredient and none has been independently replicated.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

Hair growth in women with thinning hair Limited evidence
A 3-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in women with self-perceived thinning hair reported increased terminal hair counts and reduced shedding, and a multisite double-blind placebo-controlled trial in subclinical hair thinning reported similar results. Both were small, industry-funded, and used self-perceived thinning rather than a diagnosed condition as the entry criterion.
Hair growth in men Limited evidence
A 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in men with thinning hair reported increased hair counts with a marine complex supplement. It came from the same investigator and sponsor as the women's trials.
Independent replication Limited evidence
No trial of a marine protein hair supplement conducted independently of the ingredient manufacturer is indexed in PubMed. Comparison against minoxidil or finasteride has never been published.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTrials used two tablets daily of a marine protein complex, taken for 3–6 months. Results in the trials took at least 90 days to appear.

SafetyWell tolerated in trials, with occasional gastrointestinal upset. It is fish- and shellfish-derived, so it is unsuitable for people with those allergies and for vegetarians. Sudden or patchy hair loss should be assessed by a doctor rather than self-treated, since it can signal thyroid disease, iron deficiency or an autoimmune condition.

Scientific references

A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the ability of an extra-strength marine protein supplement to promote hair growth and decrease shedding in women with self-perceived thinning hair
Ablon G — Dermatol Res Pract, 2015
A Marine Protein-based Dietary Supplement for Subclinical Hair Thinning/Loss: Results of a Multisite, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial
Rizer RL, Stephens TJ, Herndon JH — Int J Trichology, 2015
A 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the ability of a marine complex supplement to promote hair growth in men with thinning hair
Ablon G — J Cosmet Dermatol, 2016

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