What is the collagen?

Collagen is one of the most important proteins synthesized in the human body. It has a triple helix structure composed of three alpha chains and primarily consists of glycine (33%), proline, and hydroxyproline (22%) amino acids (primary structure).

Types of Collagen

Approximately 28 types of collagen have been identified, each with distinct functions and locations.

• Collagen Type I: The most abundant type, found in the skin, bones, teeth, tendons, ligaments, vascular structures, and organs.
• Collagen Type II: Primarily located in cartilage tissue, providing structural support.
• Collagen Type III: Commonly found in the skin, muscles, and blood vessels, contributing to elasticity and strength.
• Collagen Type IV: Present in the basal membrane and the epithelial layer of the basal lamina, playing a role in filtration and structural support.
• Collagen Type V: A key component of cell surfaces and the placenta, involved in tissue development and maintenance.¹

Native Collagen vs. Hydrolyzed Collagen Supplements

The properties of native collagen and hydrolyzed collagen (HC) are fundamentally different. When native collagen undergoes denaturation, its triple-helix structure transforms into a random coil due to the breakdown of hydrogen bonds during hydrolysis. This process cleaves polypeptide chains, resulting in smaller peptides. The molecular weight of peptides after hydrolysis is significantly lower than that of native collagen.

Enzymatic hydrolysis not only reduces peptide size but also alters physicochemical and biological properties. The composition of collagen and the degree of hydrolysis influence its functional characteristics, such as antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity, and bioavailability. These properties are particularly dependent on molecular weight, with lower molecular weight peptides often exhibiting higher bioavailability and improved functional benefits.

HC acts as an electron donor, allowing it to react with free radicals to produce more stable products. HC offers several advantages over native collagen. Some of these include higher therapeutic loading, cost-effectiveness, and the elimination of the need for a multi-step extraction process. It is highly digestible, easily absorbed, and well-distributed in the human body. Additionally, HC exhibits lower viscosity in aqueous solutions, neutral odor, colorlessness, transparency, emulsification and stabilization properties, foam formation, film formation, wettability, solubility, dispersibility, powder compressibility, carrier properties, and low allergenicity. These features make it highly convenient for consumers.

Oral Collagen Supplement

Collagen loss in the body begins between the ages of 18 and 29. After the age of 40, approximately 1% of collagen is lost annually. By the age of 80, the collagen levels in the body can be around 75% lower compared to young adults. This decline is influenced by factors such as free radicals, poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, and certain diseases. Collagen plays a crucial role in the body, contributing to organ development, wound and tissue repair, as well as the maintenance of the cornea, gums, and scalp.

Additionally, collagen helps repair bones and blood vessels. In the cornea, collagen structure provides both mechanical and optical properties. It also plays a role in biological functions such as cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Therefore, collagen is found as an essential component in bones, tendons, ligaments, hair, skin, and muscles throughout the body.¹

Collagen supplements are available in liquid, capsule, and powder forms, derived from collagen-rich sources such as tendons, cartilage, and skin. Some supplements also contain collagen components sourced from eggshells. These supplements are often hydrolyzed, meaning the collagen is broken down into smaller peptides, making it easier for the body to digest and absorb compared to traditional dietary sources.³

The skin is the largest organ in the human body. Collagen, elastic fibers, and hyaluronic acid are the primary structural components of the skin. The skin protects the body from external damage, regulates temperature, and supports other bodily functions. Aging is a natural process that causes changes in the body. The skin undergoes morphological, functional, and structural deterioration. The amount of collagen and elastin fibers decreases, leading to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

Controlling skin aging is a challenge in the cosmetic industry; however, HC has been proven to be an alternative solution to slow down aging. HC has demonstrated excellent water retention capacity, moisture absorption, and anti-aging as well as anti-melanogenic properties, making it a potential active ingredient in skincare products. Hydrolyzed collagen affects the dermis in two different ways. First, it provides building blocks for the production of collagen and elastin fibers. Second, it binds to fibroblast membrane receptors and stimulates the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.

HC oral supplements reach the deeper layers of the skin, improve skin physiology and appearance, enhance hydration, elasticity, and firmness, and reduce wrinkles, contributing to skin rejuvenation.¹

Skin aging has gained significant attention due to evolving beauty standards. As many countries are becoming aging societies, the psychosocial effects of skin aging require effective interventions. In this context, the use of nutraceutical supplements has increased in recent years.

Among these nutraceuticals, hydrolyzed collagen (HC) is the most popular and a promising anti-aging nutraceutical supplement. Other studies have shown that alanine-hydroxyproline-glycine and serine-hydroxyproline-glycine, derived from HC, can be detected in human blood and accumulate in the skin just one hour after oral intake. Long-term collagen supplementation has been found to have positive effects on skin moisture and elasticity compared to short-term use.²

In vivo studies have shown significant improvements in skin hydration, wrinkles, and elasticity in women aged 40 to 60 who took oral HC supplementation for 12 weeks. Women between the ages of 35 and 65 who used oral HC supplements demonstrated improvements in dermal thickness, skin firmness, and elasticity after three months of supplementation. Another study, conducted over 90 days with 120 participants consuming a daily oral supplement containing marine HC, resulted in enhanced skin texture and elasticity. Additionally, a protective effect on joint health was observed. Moreover, the breakdown of the dermal collagen network significantly decreased after four weeks of supplementation, and these effects persisted after 12 weeks.¹

Mechanism of Action of Collagen Supplements

Two different approaches can be chosen for anti-aging collagen application. One is topical application, and the other is oral supplementation. The number of studies on oral supplements is significantly higher. Collagen has two different effects on the skin. The first is providing elastin and essential components for collagen production. The second is binding to fibroblast receptors in the dermis layer to stimulate elastin and hyaluronic acid synthesis. Topical application of collagen has been shown to improve skin elasticity and texture. However, topical collagen cannot fully penetrate all layers of the skin due to its high molecular weight. In contrast, oral collagen intake enhances mechanical properties by increasing collagen fibril density and diameter. Bioactive peptides in collagen supplements are absorbed quickly and distribute easily to other tissues due to their lower molecular weight.

Evidence from animal models suggests that oral administration of collagen prevents the reduction in skin hydration caused by UV radiation and reduces epidermal hyperplasia induced by UV exposure. Moreover, oral collagen intake increases skin moisture content and elasticity, thereby reducing wrinkles and.⁵

Strengthen Your Bones with Collagen Supplementation

Collagen is a fundamental component of bones and helps them stay strong. That’s why collagen supplementation may support bone health and strengthen the skeleton.
Like the skin, collagen loss also affects bones. As we age, the decrease in collagen levels in the body can weaken bones and lead to lower bone mineral density (BMD).

Lower BMD generally increases the risk of bone fractures and is also associated with osteoporosis. A small-scale, 12-month study on postmenopausal women with low BMD found that those who took calcium, vitamin D, and 5g of collagen supplementation experienced less BMD loss compared to those who did not take collagen.

Another small study on postmenopausal women with low BMD found similar results with the same duration and dosage, even without the need for additional minerals and vitamins.4

Improve Your Muscles with Collagen Supplements

Muscle mass and strength may decrease with aging, a condition known as sarcopenia in medicine. Combining exercise with collagen supplementation can help regain muscle mass. Researchers suggest that collagen supplementation supports the development of muscle proteins, such as creatine, which stimulate muscle growth.

This can help people of all ages regain muscle mass. A 12-week study conducted on 27 older men with age-related muscle loss found that those who took 15 grams of collagen daily and exercised gained more muscle mass and strength compared to those who did not. Another 12-week study on 57 young men found that individuals who took 15 grams of collagen daily and performed resistance training three times a week experienced improvements in body composition. However, overall, the placebo and collagen groups showed similar strength results. More research may be needed in this area.

Strengthen Your Heart and Gut Health with Collagen Supplements

Some evidence suggests that collagen peptide supplements may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, studies are limited. A review published in 2023 found that peptide supplements may help lower LDL cholesterol— which increases CVD risk— and systolic blood pressure.

A study published in 2022 shows that collagen peptide supplements may help alleviate mild gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, such as bloating. In an eight-week study, investigators examined the effects of a 20g collagen peptide supplement in 14 participants and observed a reduction in GI symptoms.⁴

However, much more research is needed to understand its effects on intestinal health.

In summary,
Consuming 2.5-10g of collagen daily can help support your needs. For this, we recommend trying our carefully formulated collagen supplements in chewable gel form, which offer the best taste and the most convenient way to consume collagen. Support your body by giving it the best. For a better you…

References:

1. León-López A, Morales-Peñaloza A, Martínez-Juárez VM, Vargas-Torres A, Zeugolis DI, Aguirre-Álvarez G. Hydrolyzed Collagen-Sources and Applications. Molecules. 2019 Nov 7;24(22):4031. doi: 10.3390/molecules24224031. PMID: 31703345; PMCID: PMC6891674.
2. Pu SY, Huang YL, Pu CM, Kang YN, Hoang KD, Chen KH, Chen C. Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2023 Apr 26;15(9):2080. doi: 10.3390/nu15092080. PMID: 37432180; PMCID: PMC10180699.
3. Coppola D, Oliviero M, Vitale GA, ve diğerleri. Alternatif ve sürdürülebilir kaynaklardan deniz kolajeni: Çıkarma, işleme ve uygulamalar. Mar Drugs. 2020;18(4):214. doi:10.3390/md18040214
4. https://www.health.com/collagen-supplements-7097604
5. Al-Atif H. Collagen Supplements for Aging and Wrinkles: A Paradigm Shift in the Fields of Dermatology and Cosmetics. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2022 Jan 1;12(1):e2022018. doi: 10.5826/dpc.1201a18. PMID: 35223163; PMCID: PMC8824545.