What is Collagen?
Collagen is a vital protein that acts as a primary building block for skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments. The human body naturally produces collagen from amino acids obtained through food, and this powerful protein can also be consumed directly through foods including fish, chicken and egg whites. Collagen can provide impressive health benefits that stem from its unique amino acid profile that includes glycine, proline, hyrdoxyproline, alanine, and glutamic acid.
Alongside the typically used sources of collagen, such as bovine and fish collagen, there is also a vegan alternative available called Vollagen®. Vollagen® is a complex of amino acids in the same proportion as those found in human collagen, matching the body’s natural collagen structures and providing the various health benefits of collagen.
Health Benefits:
Supports Skin Health
Collagen is renowned for its skin health benefits and is often used in the form of supplements and topical skincare products designed to enhance the appearance of skin. Research has repeatedly shown that collagen supplements can increase skin elasticity and hydration as well as reducing wrinkling and roughness, rejuvenating the appearance of skin.
With age our bodies produce less collagen often leading to dry skin and signs of ageing, however collagen supplements can stimulate skin metabolism and encourage the body to produce its own collagen, leading to impressive anti-ageing effects.
Promotes Joint Health
Collagen is involved in the maintenance of cartilage in the body, which is vital to protecting joints, clearly implicating collagen in joint health. Research shows that collagen can promote joint health, with one study evidencing that oral administration of hydrolysed collagen can lead to reduced pain and enhanced joint mobility in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
As the human body produces less collagen as we get older, we are at greater risk of developing degenerative joint disorders such as osteoarthritis as we age. Therefore, taking a collagen supplement can be a great way of supporting your joint health as you age and alleviating joint pain and discomfort.
History:
Many ancient diets naturally included collagen through the consumption of animal skin, bones, and connective tissues, typically in the form of broths and slow-cooked dishes, many of which were acknowledged for their nutritional value and health benefits. For example, collagen-rich foods have a long history of use in traditional Chinese Medicine to support skin vitality, joint strength, and overall resilience.
Typical use:
Collagen supplements are widely used and are highly popular with individuals seeking to support youthful healthy skin, those looking to reduce joint discomfort and athletes aiming to both enhance their recovery and consume a low-fat additional source of protein. There are many different forms of collagen supplements available, including hydrolysed collagen peptides, marine collagen, bovine collagen and type II collagen, so it is important that you take your time to explore which form of collagen is best suited to your personal health goals in order to achieve the best results possible.
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10180699/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8824545/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10058045/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451865424001716
