Collagen is a structural protein present in connective tissues all through your physique, together with pores and skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments. Its main perform is to assist tissues face up to stretching. As you age, your physique make much less collagen. Some folks try to revive collagen by taking collagen dietary supplements.
Researchers have investigated the results of collagen supplementation on growing old pores and skin, bone density, joint well being, and different elements. Whereas outcomes are promising, extra analysis is required to completely perceive whether or not or not supplementation is efficient.
Well being Advantages
Regardless of claims that collagen dietary supplements can agency up your pores and skin, struggle age-related harm, enhance bone well being, and supply different advantages, few rigorous unbiased research have examined the results of those dietary supplements.
Many research investigating the advantages of collagen dietary supplements are small or restricted in scope. Additionally, a lot of the analysis is funded by collagen suppliers—massive companies that will serve to profit from constructive outcomes.
Listed below are some findings from the obtainable analysis.
Pores and skin
Collagen makes up 75% of the dry weight of your pores and skin. As you age, your pores and skin’s interior layer loses collagen and turns into much less supple and extra susceptible to wreck.
In a 2015 examine, scientists evaluated whether or not or not supplementation might enhance the collagen density of pores and skin tissue in a lab setting. Their outcomes instructed that dietary supplements might enhance each pores and skin hydration and the dermal collagen community with the potential to enhance hallmarks of pores and skin growing old.
Different research have investigated pores and skin elasticity, which begins to say no in your 20s. In a 2014 examine in Pores and skin Pharmacology and Physiology, as an illustration, girls ages 35 to 55 took a selected collagen complement or a placebo as soon as each day for eight weeks. On the examine’s finish, those that took the collagen had improved pores and skin elasticity in comparison with those that took the placebo.
A 2018 examine printed in Diet Analysis investigated the position of a selected model of oral collagen complement that additionally contained different substances (chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, L-carnitine, nutritional vitamins, and minerals). Researchers discovered that the complement elevated pores and skin elasticity and hydration.
Lastly, a 2019 overview of research investigating oral collagen dietary supplements evaluated their results on wound therapeutic and pores and skin growing old. Examine authors concluded the dietary supplements are usually protected and may enhance pores and skin elasticity, hydration, density. They added, nonetheless, that additional research are wanted to find out correct dosing and examine medical functions.
Bone Well being
It’s unclear whether or not collagen supplementation can enhance bone well being.
In a 2010 examine printed within the journal Maturitas, researchers discovered that collagen dietary supplements failed to enhance bone well being in postmenopausal girls. For the examine, 71 girls with osteopenia have been assigned to take both hydrolyzed collagen dietary supplements or a placebo on daily basis for twenty-four weeks. Outcomes revealed that the collagen dietary supplements didn’t produce any results on bone metabolism.
However a 2018 examine printed in Vitamins concluded that the consumption of a selected model of collagen peptide elevated bone mineral density in postmenopausal girls. As well as, supplementation was related to a positive shift in bone markers, indicating elevated bone formation and lowered bone degradation.
Physique Composition
Some folks could take collagen to protect muscle mass or lower fats mass. Research on this are restricted and have offered blended outcomes.
A 2019 examine printed in Vitamins investigated whether or not or not collagen supplementation mixed with resistance coaching might have an effect on physique composition in energetic males. Fifty-seven males participated in a 12-week program that mixed resistance coaching with both consumption of a collagen complement or consumption of a placebo. Researchers discovered that each teams elevated muscle to the identical extent. Nonetheless, those that took a collagen complement confirmed a slight enhance in fat-free mass, regarded as associated to enhancements in connective tissue.
One other small trial in contrast hydrolyzed collagen protein dietary supplements to whey protein dietary supplements in older girls. The 2009 examine printed within the Journal of the American Dietetic Affiliation discovered that taking hydrolyzed collagen dietary supplements could assist protect lean physique mass.
Joint Ache
Collagen helps stimulate the manufacturing of cartilage—a rubbery materials that covers and protects bones and helps joints transfer easily. Collagen and cartilage manufacturing declines with age. There may be some proof that collagen dietary supplements could cut back joint ache and different signs of osteoarthritis.
In 2019, researchers evaluated research that investigated the results of collagen dietary supplements on osteoarthritis signs. The meta-analysis printed in Worldwide Orthopaedics concluded that collagen is efficient in lowering stiffness related to the situation. It was much less efficient at lowering ache and purposeful joint limitation.
Coronary heart Illness
Some folks take collagen dietary supplements to spice up coronary heart well being, though there may be restricted unbiased analysis to help this profit.
Researchers affiliated with a Japanese firm that makes a collagen-based purposeful meals printed a examine in 2017. They concluded that when consumed commonly for six months, collagen tripeptide helped enhance levels of cholesterol and lowered different threat elements for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
Different Makes use of
Some customers additionally take collagen dietary supplements for eye well being, to enhance the looks of pores and skin and nails, and to encourage weight reduction. Nonetheless, little proof is accessible to help these advantages.
You possibly can’t select the place collagen can be used within the physique. For instance, you may take a collagen complement to enhance your pores and skin, but when your bones or your muscle groups are collagen-deprived, it is much less possible that your pores and skin will reap any advantages.
Potential Facet Results
There are some stories that collagen dietary supplements could trigger delicate digestive signs or a foul style within the mouth.
There’s additionally some concern that stimulating collagen synthesis may enhance oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) manufacturing.
These with a fish, shellfish, or egg allergy ought to keep away from collagen dietary supplements as lots of them are constructed from these substances.
Collagen dietary supplements have not been examined for security. Remember the fact that the security of dietary supplements in pregnant girls, nursing moms, youngsters, and people with medical circumstances or who’re taking drugs has not been established.
Some collagen merchandise have been recalled by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) due to false claims. Merchandise that stimulate collagen manufacturing or declare to take away wrinkles are thought of medicine (fairly than dietary supplements) by the FDA. These merchandise should present proof of security and effectiveness. If no proof or inadequate proof is offered, they’re faraway from the market.
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
Dosage and Preparation
Collagen dietary supplements can be found within the type of tablets, capsules, and powders.
Dosage suggestions range. Research investigating the advantages of collagen dietary supplements have evaluated doses starting from 2.5 to 10 grams per day. Nonetheless, some complement makers and different proponents of collagen-based merchandise suggest as much as 30 grams per day.
Your healthcare supplier could also be the perfect supply of recommendation to find out the right dose for you.
Notice you can additionally enhance collagen manufacturing by consuming meals similar to bone broth or pork pores and skin.
What to Look For
Many merchandise marketed as collagen dietary supplements comprise hydrolyzed collagen, which is animal-derived collagen that has been damaged down into small peptides in order that your physique can take up it extra successfully.
As a result of collagen dietary supplements are normally constructed from fish scales, cow bones, or different animal components, those that comply with a strict vegan food regimen could need to discover an alternate.
Lastly, remember the fact that a costlier complement just isn’t essentially a greater one.
Different Questions
What about collagen lotions. Do they work?
There may be at the moment a scarcity of scientific proof for the anti-aging results of lotions, lotions or different magnificence merchandise containing collagen. However consultants observe that lotions are the least possible type of collagen to be efficient as a result of it’s laborious to soak up it by means of the pores and skin.
Are collagen injections protected?
One kind of beauty process includes injecting sure substances (“fillers”) into the pores and skin with a view to cut back indicators of growing old, similar to advantageous strains. Poly-L-lactic acid fillers, as an illustration, assist struggle the results of growing old by stimulating collagen manufacturing within the pores and skin. Though fillers are usually thought of protected, they often result in negative effects like pores and skin discoloration and allergic reactions. What’s extra, the anti-aging results of those procedures are short-term and require repeat remedies to keep up outcomes.