Collagen Supplements
6 Potential Benefits
Over the past few years, collagen has been popping up in all sorts of health and beauty products, touting benefits from younger-looking skin to healthy bones and joints. Is collagen really as important as the labels are claiming?
Here we have done a deep dive into all things collagen. You will learn what collagen is, what it does, and why it is important. We will also go over the different types of collagen you can find in supplement form. Finally, we will explore the many benefits of collagen and how you can add it to your daily routine.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein essential for the strength and structure of the body. In the human body, it represents one-third of the total protein. Its triple helix structure is made up of three amino acids — glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. With its fiber-like structure, it is responsible for much of the connective tissue in the body.
What Does Collagen Do?
With collagen being a major protein in the body, it has many functions. There are about 28 types of collagen, each with different potential benefits. While the human body has many collagen types, there are five main kinds. Here are the five collagen types that are most prevalent in the body:
- Type 1 collagen represents 90% of the collagen in the body. This collagen type is largely found in the vascular system, skin, tendons, and other tissues.
- Type 2 collagen is the main structural component of cartilage. Cartilage is flexible connective tissue often found in and around joints. Your nose and ears are also composed of cartilage.
- Type 3 collagen is mostly found in blood vessels, the uterus, and bowels. It is also important in blood clotting and wound healing.
- Type 5 collagen works with types I and III in fibrillation. It assists in the formation of tissue and in tissue quality.
- Type 10 collagen is important for bone growth and healing.
Why Is Collagen Important?
Collagen touches every aspect of the body. It is found in blood, organs, bones, joints, and skin. Ensuring your body has enough collagen is essential to a healthy, strong body. Collagen provides structural support for skin, joints, and bones.
Many beauty products include collagen in their formulas to help maintain skin, hair, and nail health. As you age, the amount of collagen you have may decrease. According to one study, there is a 75% reduction in collagen production from 29 to 80 years of age. While your body may reduce its natural collagen production, taking collagen supplements may help increase your collagen levels.
What Are the Two Types of Collagen Supplements?
While the body can make collagen with certain foods consumed, collagen supplements may provide you with the amino acids needed to help boost that production.
Collagen supplements are often marked as hydrolyzed collagen — or collagen hydrolysate. The hydrolyzed process is a chemical process using proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes assisted in the breakdown of protein. The result of this is hydrolyzed collagen, consisting of small peptides.
Peptides are shorter chains of amino acids. They make it easier for the body to break down the protein and use the amino acids.
Each collagen supplement may include a different type of collagen or a combination of a few types. This information is usually listed on the packaging.
Keep in mind that vitamin C is believed to support and maintain proper collagen synthesis. Vitamin C can also help maintain the wellness of the bones, tendons, and ligaments. One way to get your daily dose of vitamin C is with our Supergreens Elixir: Daily Greens. Not only will you boost your vitamin C for the day, but it is also full of 75 other vitamins and minerals to provide support to your immune health and leave you with feelings of energy.
Most commonly, collagen supplements are found in powder or capsule form. Here are some common collagen supplement types.
Grass-Fed Bovine Supplements
Grass-fed bovine collagen supplements are extracted from grass-fed cows' bones and other byproducts. Once the collagen has been acquired by boiling the bones and byproducts — much like making bone broth — a jelly-like substance called gelatin is formed, which contains the collagen. The gelatin is dried and made into a collagen powder.
Bovine collagen is generally high in both collagen types 1 and 3. This may provide health benefits to the skin, tendons, vascular system, uterus, and bowels.
You can find the healing benefits of grass-fed bovine collagen in our 24K Chicken Bone Broth, 24K Beef Bone Broth, and Beauty Matcha Latte Powder.
With a combination of collagen and powerful superfoods like ginger, turmeric, and beauty mushrooms, they're the perfect, easy-to-prepare way to give yourself an extra boost. Plus, they're delicious and simple to incorporate into any diet!
Marine Supplements
Marine collagen supplements are most commonly made from jellyfish, sharks, or fish. The collagen is pulled out of marine animals much like the process of the bovine collagen. It is dried into a tasteless white powder and can be found in powder form or in capsules.
Collagen types 1 and 2 are often found in marine collagen. This type of collagen supplement may help support skin and cartilage health.
Marine collagen is also being studied as an environmentally friendly option for collagen extraction. Marine animals and their byproducts that are discarded can be used as collagen, reducing waste.
What Are the Benefits of Taking Collagen?
Collagen supplements could help support your body’s wellness. By breaking collagen down into peptides, collagen supplements allow the body to take those protein molecules and break them down, taking the amino acids needed for many different functions in the body.
Collagen supplements could help provide the functional components to trigger body collagen turnover. These components may not be as readily available in the average Western diet.
Here are some of the potential benefits of taking a collagen supplement:
Supports Skin Health
Your skin health may be one of the first to show signs of aging. You may notice fine lines, wrinkles, and a loss of volume. While this may be a normal aging process, you may be able to support your skin health by consuming collagen.
Collagen-rich connective tissue makes up most of your skin. As we have learned earlier, our collagen production slows as we age. Reduced collagen can cause premature aging of skin and slow wound healing. Multiple studies have shown potential skincare benefits when taking an oral collagen supplement.
When looking for face creams, you may notice many products tout collagen as an ingredient, but does a topical application offer the same potential benefits as an oral collagen supplement? Studies have shown that this type of cream could help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face.
Supports Fingernail Health
While fingernails are mostly made of keratin, another protein in the body, collagen supplements may also improve the health of fingernails. Collagen may support the health of the nail bed, and provide needed amino acids to the nail.
One study showed that brittle, cracked, or broken nails may be reduced when taking a collagen supplement. It may also increase nail growth by 12%.
Supports Scalp Health
Your scalp is the skin on your head that does not include your face. Basically, it is the area of your head that is covered by hair. The health of your scalp plays a key role in the health of your hair.
The dermis is a connective tissue layer between the outside and inside layers of skin. It is in this area that hair follicles live. The dermis is mainly composed of collagen. By supporting this area with collagen supplements, you could help maintain scalp and hair health.
Supports Bone Density
Calcium is often thought to be the first nutrient you go to for bone health. While it is a main component of bone health, more research is coming out about the importance of collagen.
In one study, a group of participants taking collagen supplements saw improved bone mineral density as compared to the control group.
Supports Joint Health
Your joints contain a rubbery substance called cartilage. Cartilage is made up of 60% collagen, with 90% of that being type 2 collagen. Over time, as collagen production slows, your cartilage can become compromised. This may result in joint pain.
By taking a collagen supplement, you could help maintain your joint health.
Supports Muscle Development
Muscles in your body greatly affect your overall health and survival. Muscles allow you to move, lift things, breathe, and pump blood. It is important to keep your muscles strong and limber. Weak or unhealthy muscles can lead to pain, muscle strain, weakness, or injury. Stretching and exercise provide lasting benefits to muscle health.
Collagen may also be a key to muscle support and development. One study showed that there was a greater increase in muscle mass development and strength when collagen was consumed in conjunction with exercise. Taking collagen supplements can help support muscles.
How Do You Take Collagen Supplements?
Your collagen needs may vary due to your specific needs. Generally, it is recommended for adults to consume 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen a day. As with any supplement, you may want to start at a smaller dose and gradually move up. While collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the body and is largely considered safe, taking too much collagen may leave you with a headache, fatigue, or digestive issues.
Collagen supplements are considered tasteless, so they can be added to almost any food. Smoothies, oats, or even your morning tea or juice are simple beverages and foods to add your daily dose of collagen into.
Another way to consume collagen is through whole foods. One of the most popular ways to add natural collagen is by consuming bone broth. Eating chicken, seafood, eggs, and certain fruits and veggies can also provide your body with the tools it needs to feel a sense of wellness.
The Bottom Line
Collagen is the most prevalent protein in the body. While there are many different types of collagen, five types are most common in the human body. While your body produces its own collagen, that production slows as you age. Collagen supplements can help you boost collagen production.
Most supplements include types 1, 2, and 3, supporting bones, joints, skin, vascular systems, and organs. Grass-fed bovine supplements — from cows — and marine supplements — from sharks, jellyfish, and fish — are two common types of collagen.
Your skin, nails, hair, bones, joints, and muscles may experience potential health benefits from a collagen supplement. These supplements often come in capsule form or powders. Powders are tasteless and can be added to many food products.
At Kroma Wellness, we know how important it is to get the nutrients required for a healthy and strong body. Our products are full of whole foods that support your overall health.
COLLAGEN STRUCTURE AND STABILITY | PMC
Decreased Collagen Production in Chronologically Aged Skin | PMC
Hydrolyzed Collagen—Sources and Applications - PMC
Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications | PubMed
Immediate and Long-term Clinical Benefits of a Topical Treatment for Facial Lines and Wrinkles | PMC
Histology, Dermis - StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf
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