Many people take daily supplements to improve their health, and a large number of products are now readily available in supermarkets and online. In particular, collagen supplements have become popular to help support and strengthen the body in various ways. But does taking collagen work?
There is controversy over whether we should take supplements at all. This is because most of us need to be able to get all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals we need from a healthy, balanced diet.
And when it comes to collagen supplements, there is limited evidence of how effective they are, given the lack of scientific research. Also, you should always be careful when taking supplements, as they can sometimes cause side effects or overdose.
What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein found everywhere in your body, especially on your skin, bones, and connective tissue. It helps with many things, including giving your skin structure and strengthening the joints and bones.
The structure of the collagen cell looks like a thread, with three chains around it. These chains are like building blocks, which bind together to make collagen fibrils very strong and supportive. You can think of collagen as a complement to your body.
Collagen ingredients for the skin
Collagen plays a major role in the functioning of your skin. In fact, healthy and youthful skin has been shown to contain more than 75% collagen.
As you grow older, however, your body produces less collagen, and your ‘scaffolding’ may become less efficient. This process can also be accelerated by such things as smoking, sunlight, and pollution. When your skin loses collagen, it loses its elasticity (flexibility), becomes thinner and drier, and may experience wrinkles and wrinkles.
Some studies have shown that taking a collagen supplement can improve the appearance of the skin, increasing both moisture and firmness. Keep in mind, however, that research in this area is limited, and more evidence is needed before we can be sure that this works.
Collagen supplements for joint health
Studies suggest that collagen supplements can help with joint pain. In the study, collagen was ‘hydrolyzed’ (broken for easy absorption), and then given to people with joint problems such as osteoarthritis. It was found to be safe and was given pain relief and improvement in teamwork. And, of course, this is just one study, so more evidence is needed.
We hope that future research will provide us with more details about collagen supplements, both in terms of what health problems they can help with and who they are best for.
Taking collagen ingredients safely
It is thought that there are 28 different types of collagen, but type 1 is the most common. To make supplements, they can be extracted from a variety of sources, but are usually taken from cows (cows) and pigs (porcine).
Porcine collagen is very similar to human collagen, so it is unlikely to cause adverse reactions – it is actually widely used in surgery. Other possible sources include marine collagen, from fish and jellyfish.
In studies, collagen supplements have no side effects and are generally thought to be safe. However, it is best to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements – they can advise you, and check if they will interfere with other medications you are taking. You should always read the product instructions, too.
Important points
- Collagen is a protein found naturally in the body
- it provides strength and support to the skin, joints, and bones
- studies have shown that collagen supplements can improve skin appearance and help with pain from joint problems
- it is best to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements
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