Collagen: What is it?

Collagen is the most common protein in your body; it makes up roughly 30% of the total protein in your body.

The main component of your body’s tendons, ligaments, muscles, skin, and other connective tissues is collagen.

It’s also present in the lining of your intestines, blood vessels, and organs.

Collagen is primarily composed of three amino acids: hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline.

These amino acids come together to form triple-helix protein fibrils.

To form the triple helix, your body also need the appropriate concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese, and vitamin C.

In this article, I will cover all the information you need to identify the collagen that is best for you.

What is the Function of Collagen?

The primary function of collagen is to give your body stability, strength, and structure.

The specific functions of collagen include:

• Fibroblast formation in the dermis (middle layer of skin) promotes the growth of new cells.
• Helping to replenish dead skin cells.
• Giving organs a protective coating.
• Giving your skin suppleness, strength, and structure.
• Promoting blood clotting in you.

Which Types of Collagen Exist?

It is known that there are roughly 28 distinct types of collagen.

Their distinctions are found in the additional cell components, the way the molecules are assembled, and the body parts that need collagen.

Each collagen fibril has at least one triple helix structure. What the five primary forms of collagen accomplish are as follows:

Class I:

Ninety percent of the collagen in your body is of this type. Type I is tightly packed and gives your skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments structure.

Class II:

Elastic cartilage, which supports joints, contains this kind.

Class III:

This kind is present in organs, arteries, and muscles.

Class IV:

Your skin’s layers contain this kind.

Type V:

This type is present in the placenta’s tissue, hair, skin, and cornea of your eyes.

How Does Aging Affect Collagen?  

As you get older, your body makes less collagen, and the collagen that is already there degrades more quickly.

The quality of the collagen has also decreased since you were younger.

Following menopause, women and those classified as female at birth (AFAB) have a marked decrease in collagen production.

Everyone experiences a normal reduction in collagen production beyond the age of sixty.

How Can I Determine Whether My Body Is Producing Less Collagen?

Although collagen cannot be quantified by a blood test, there are indications that the amount of collagen in your body is declining.

Among these symptoms and indicators are:

• Sagging or wrinkled skin.
• Sunken eyes and other facial surroundings.
• Muscular pains and shrinking, weakened muscles
• Stiffer, less pliable ligaments and tendons.
• Osteoarthritis or joint pain brought on by worn cartilage.
• Loss of motion due to joint injury or stiffness.
• Digestive issues are brought on by the weakening of your stomach lining.
• Issues pertaining to blood flow.

 

 

What Way of Living Weakens Collagen?

Avoid these habits and lessen the chance of collagen damage.

Steer clear of the following things, as they can lower your body’s collagen levels:

Smoking:

Smoking reduces the generation of collagen.

It weakens elastin and collagen, causing wrinkles and sluggish wound healing.

Nicotine prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching your skin’s surface by narrowing blood vessels nearby.

Consuming too much sugar and processed carbohydrates:

Advanced glycation end products are created when sugar binds to proteins.

Collagen becomes weak, dry, and brittle as a result of these chemicals’ damage to neighboring proteins.

UV light exposure:

Overexposure to sunlight diminishes collagen synthesis and accelerates its degradation.

Sunlight with ultraviolet rays wrinkles skin, steer clear of prolonged sun exposure; and use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher whenever you are outside

Which Illnesses and Other Conditions Weaken Collagen?

Collagen can be harmed by autoimmune illnesses, in which the body’s immune system targets its own tissue.

The inflammatory connective tissue diseases rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dermatomyositis, and scleroderma are known to cause damage to collagen.

Collagen can also be harmed by genetic alterations.

Disorders like osteogenesis imperfecta and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are caused by defects in collagen formation.

Naturally, collagen levels decrease as we age.

 

How Can I Slow Down the Signs of Aging by Improving the Loss of Skin Collagen?

 

• Use sunscreen on a daily basis to reduce the signs of aging skin

Collagen is damaged by ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.

Make use of sunscreen products with an SPF of 30 or above.

When you’re outside, make sure you’re wearing lightweight long sleeves and slacks, sunglasses with UV protection, and a wide-brimmed hat.

For added protection, look for apparel with a UV protection factor label. Steer clear of tanning beds.

• Eat a diet that is well-balanced, such as the Mediterranean diet.

This has a moderate amount of seafood, meats, poultry, dairy, and eggs, along with an abundance of vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, and fruits.

Does Eating Foods High in Collagen Increase the Amount of Collagen in My Body?

Collagen cannot be absorbed wholly by your body.

The collagen proteins you eat are broken down by your body into amino acids.

Thus, increasing your intake of foods high in collagen does not raise your body’s collagen levels.

However, a balanced diet can include a variety of foods that include the unprocessed components needed to support the creation of collagen.

Proline and glycine are amino acids, which are found in these vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can be found in foods like:

Vitamin C

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, oranges, strawberries, bell peppers, and potatoes all contain vitamin C.

Proline

Mushrooms, cabbage, asparagus, peanuts, wheat, seafood, egg whites, and beef are foods high in proline.

Glycine

Granola, peanuts, turkey, chicken, and pig skins, as well as red meats, contain glycine.

Copper

Dark chocolate, almonds, seeds, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, lobster, oysters, liver, and leafy greens are foods high in copper.

Zinc

Good sources of zinc include red meat, poultry, pork, beans, chickpeas, almonds, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products.

What Advantages Does Collagen Offer Your Body?

 

• The body needs protein for several functions.

Body tissues gain their shape, toughness, stiffness, and texture from collagen.

It feels like a coat of leather on the skin.

Additionally, it promotes skin resilience and strength when it combines with elastic fibers.

Your body may start to produce less collagen, which can lead to wrinkles, stiffer tendons and ligaments, weaker muscles, joint discomfort, and even gastrointestinal issues.

• It is evident that collagen is essential to the well-being of each and every bodily system.

Taking up to 10 grams of collagen peptides daily can help increase the density, suppleness, and moisture of the skin.

Furthermore, a review from 2020 mentions that consuming hydrolyzed collagen may help prevent UV-induced melasma.

A skin condition characterized by discolored areas on the face, maybe because of its antioxidant properties.

In a 2017 study, 139 young adult athletes with knee discomfort were given 5 g of collagen peptides daily for a period of 12 weeks in order to address their joint pain.

The collagen-supplemented group had less joint pain during activity than the placebo group.

This may be a result of the proteins encouraging the healing of microinjuries in cartilage and decreasing the inflammation that fuels pain.

• In addition to the benefits to your entire skeleton, there may also be advantages for your bones.

A 2018 study discovered that post-menopausal women with age-related decreases in bone mineral density who took 5 g of specific collagen peptides for a year experienced increased hip and spine bone formation.

• Your cardiovascular system may benefit from one of the more unexpected advantages.

A 2017 study on healthy adults found that after taking a collagen tripeptide for six months, participants’ arterial stiffness and cholesterol improved.

This indicates that collagen may help lower the risk of coronary artery disease.

Uses of Collagen in Medicine and Cosmetics

Resorbable collagen comes in certain varieties.

This implies that they are capable of being metabolized, transformed, and reabsorbed by the body.

It has a variety of medical applications and can even be shaped into structures outside of the body.

Products designed to increase collagen levels can come from both humans and other animals. They include:

Fillers for the skin

Collagen dermal fillers combined with hyaluronic acid have the potential to improve skin suppleness by increasing the production of collagen.

This may aid in enlarging tissues and filling in any holes in the skin, including wrinkles.

Individuals use them to:

• Lessen wrinkles
• Enhance skin contours
• Fill in depressions
• Lessen the visibility of scars.

These items are sourced by manufacturers from both humans and other animals.

When fish and salmon cells are used in one filler, consumers ought to ascertain the product’s place of origin and conduct a preliminary allergy test.

Dressing of wounds

In order for wounds to heal naturally, collagen is essential. Applications of collagen can aid in the following areas:

• Regulating bleeding.
• Lowering inflammation.
• Overseeing blood vessel health and function increasing scar tissue strength.
• Regaining skin suppleness.
• Drawing cells that aid in wound healing, offering a surface for the growth of new tissue.

Collagen and additional ingredients intended to promote healing are present in collagen wound dressings.

They can be in the form of:

• gels
• powders
• dressings made of fleece or sponge.

Tissue regeneration under guidance

Collagen is occasionally used by doctors to create scaffolds.

These offer short-term support while the body heals and regenerates new cells.

Collagen-containing membranes, plugs, or pads can aid in bone regeneration, wound healing, controlling extraction sockets during dental surgery, and stimulating blood clotting.

According to a 2011 study, collagen barriers can stop rapidly proliferating gum-associated cells from spreading to a tooth wound after oral surgery.

By doing this, an area where tooth cells can recover is preserved.

Once recovery is complete, a surgeon does not need to physically remove these membranes because they are resorbable.

Osteoarthritis treatment

Healthy bones and cartilage depend on collagen.

According to some, consuming supplements that contain collagen hydrolysate may increase collagen levels and help control osteoarthritis symptoms.

Scientists released the findings of a study in 2018 that involved 120 participants.

Of them, half took oral supplements containing collagen and other ingredients for ninety days, while the other half received a placebo.

Joint pain decreased by 43% and joint mobility increased by 39% in those who took collagen.

Skin renewal

Maintaining strong, elastic, and youthful-looking skin may be achieved by increasing collagen production or halting its deterioration.

Among the methods of doing this are:

• Using lotions and other items.
• Undergoing surgical procedures, such as filler injections.
• Oral supplements that contain vitamins, antioxidants, and hydrolyzed bioactive collagen peptides.
• Dietary decisions that supply antioxidants and nutrients to combat oxidative stress.

Some investigations suggest that consuming hydrolyzed collagen and specific nutrients may help increase the formation of collagen or prevent its loss.

Collagen-containing creams, powders, and other topical cosmetics frequently make the promise that by raising the body’s collagen levels, they will regenerate the skin.

Studies, however, have not demonstrated that the skin can absorb the required ingredients in a way that will significantly improve the skin.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which type of collagen works best?

Collagen type I

The greatest collagen for skin is typically thought to be type I.

It is the kind of collagen that is most common in the body.

It keeps the skin, hair, nails, and bones healthy.

Type I collagen levels start to decrease around the age of 25, just like all other forms of collagen.

Which collagen is ranked as the best?

Best All Around: Vital collagen peptides of protein

Vital Proteins lives up to the hype, as seen by the use of celebrities like Jennifer Aniston; many dermatologists have highly endorsed this excellent powder.

Collagen peptides, found in this specific product, are absorbed by the body more readily than other kinds of proteins.

How should I select collagen?

When considering oral collagen supplementation, it’s critical to consider:

The type of collagen:

Hydrolyzed, dipeptide, or tripeptide

The source:

Marine or bovine

Preferred method of administration:

Capsules or liquid form.

Also, the dosage.

Which type of collagen works best to prevent aging?

According to the current theory, topical and oral collagen both lessen or postpone skin aging. Neither form is preferable to the other.

Therefore, dermatologists may view collagen peptide compounds as anti-aging treatments, particularly in cosmetics.

Which form of collagen has all five?

Multiple collagen

Since multi collagen comes from eggshell membrane, beef, chicken, fish, and chicken, it will provide all five types (I, II, III, IV, and V).

Which is better, collagen tablets or powder?

Both pills and powders work well, absorb equally, and are tasteless (if the powder is flavorless).

When it comes to the amount of collagen protein in each meal, the cost per serving, and the overall eating experience, they differ significantly.

 

Disclaimer

This information is not meant to replace medical care from a licensed healthcare or beauty expert; rather, it is meant for educational and self-awareness purposes.