Collagen supplements have become very famous – especially – in women looking for a more elastic, healthy and beautiful skin. This protein, which is important for the structure of the skin and joints, has been presented as a miraculous treatment for everything, from wrinkles to bad sleep.

As collagen production from our body naturally slows over the years, collagen supplements become sought after and one of the people who are a fan of this substance is Brian Johnson’s businessman who wants to live forever and experiment with methods to reverse aging. He takes 25 grams of collagen peptides every day.

But do collagen supplements work? According to the BBC, there is some indications that complementary collagen use actually has health benefits, but research is still limited.

Why is the complicated collagen issue

‘To get started with the basics, collagen is found only in connective tissue of animal“, Says Andrea Soares, a dietitian from Georgia, USA.

Collagen products come from various animals: cows, pigs, chickens and fish. Gelatin, which is used to make pastries, jelly and capsules for medicinal products, is also a form of collagen.

‘Some plant supplements are claimed to be’ vegan collagen ‘but what they actually contain is ingredients that reinforce the collagensuch as Vitamin C, the amino acids and metals that help your body to make its own collagen ‘, The dietitian explains. ‘If you are vegan, you might want to spend your money on a integrated diet Instead of ‘collagen’ plant supplements that do not actually contain collagen ‘, She advises herself.

The different types of collagen seem to work differently. For example, the hydrolyzed collagen It is a collagen that has been split into small amino acid chains, known as peptides. They are further broken down as they move through the digestive system.

On the other hand, Type II’s raw collagen is component of cartilage where surrounds them joints. Theoretically it can help replenish collagen around the joints, says David Hunter, a clinical researcher of rheumatology at the University of Sydney, who specializes in osteoarthritis.

Type II collagen breaks down into amino acids in the stomach, while hydrolyzed collagen tends to be better absorbed by the body, he notes.

In addition to its wide variety of collagen sources and types, different forms are circulated. We find it from bars, to drinks. Compared to dust and liquids, ‘The tablets and the chewing gum they often have less collagen per serving and may contain additional sugars or other ingredients’, Suarez points out.

And while eating foods rich in protein and vitamin C generally helps our body produce collagen, the amount of collagen present in foods such as bone broth varies. She advises those who receive collagen as a supplement to choose dust or liquid, with at least 5-10 grams of collagen per dose.

At the same time, according to experts, many marketing claims about products collagen from mouthdo not keep up with the checks that have been done.

In the European Union, ‘No allegation of collagen and health supplements has taken the green light’, Lenng Heng, responsible for human nutrition in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), explains.

EFSA is the EU organization that evaluates the risks associated with new foods. When scientists examined collagen, they concluded that the claims of its benefits, skin elasticity or joint function are not sufficiently supported by scientific research.

Hunter explains how many studies of collagen funded by supplements or are drawn up by company employees. “The reality for many of these studies is that it is difficult to find someone who is completely independent of the industry,” says the researcher.

While the risks to health from taking collagen supplements seem to be few, there are other greater consequences than the high demand for collagen. For example, the Collagen supplements from cattle have been linked to the Deforestation in Brazil.

In the meantime, the European Commission has commissioned a research on the possibility of collagen or gelatin leading to new cases of contagious spongy encephalopathy. EFSA calculated the exposure of people orally to contaminated gelatin according to hypothetical scenarios of worse case and found that the risk was minimal to zero.

Collagen for skin, tissues and joints

Another reflection of experts is whether collagen is absorbable when it is hired by mouth. As dermatologist Antzali Machto said, from London to BBC in 2019, there is not many evidence that the substance will survive from digestionwill travel to the blood and finally will reaches the skin to see change.

In fact, when any protein reaches the stomach – including collagen – usually breaks down directly to amino acids, which then are reconstituted to the proteins where need the body At that moment. So if the body needs collagen, it can reconstitute these amino acids in collagen, but there are no guarantees that it will do it.

Another issue is the synthesis of collagen supplements. In many dermatological studies performed on collagen products, it seemed that the supplements contain other ingredients which can benefit skin health, thus making it difficult to isolate the effects of collagen.

However, many consumers swear that collagen has changed the appearance and feel of its skin. However, experts insist that further research is needed to confirm this.

Other (industry funded) studies have indicated that supplements Orally taken and have high amounts of collagen-hydroxyproline collagen peptides and hydroxyprolgycine can improve moisture and skin appearance. ‘The key is consistent use ‘, The Suarez stresses.

Also experts report that there are ways to reinforced the benefits of collagen supplements, and one of them is the exerciseas it stimulates body tissues to regenerate more collagen.

In terms of osteoarthritisstudies have found that collagen supplements seemed to reduce pain in the short term. However, there is also limited.

Finally, take collagen supplements?

Every supplement we take may not interact well with other medicines We receive, so Hunter advises those who are thinking of taking a supplement to talk to a healthcare professional first.

Increased intake of a protein such as collagen could be negatively affected by people with kidney or liver diseases, and it is therefore recommended to have a discussion with a specialist.

Hunter tells his patients who show interest in supplements that some of them are worth trying them out for three or four weeks. As with the appearance of the skin, some studies suggest that the benefits of joint supplements will not appear unless taken for two or three months. However, people with osteoarthritis will find it difficult to continue with a supplement if they do not see results in about a month.

As the BBC points out, as there are many reasons someone can look for collagen, there is no universal answer as to whether one is worth trying a collagen supplement.

This depends on why He wants to get itfor How long may continue to take it, How accessible is itif collagen is combined with other ingredients And how can it affect other aspects of a person’s health.

But scientists think that money spent on collagen supplements could be spent on a balanced dietwhich can improve health in many ways. In addition to food, the exercisethe sleep and the sunscreen They also have known benefits for skin appearance and health.

It may seem boring, but in these ways you will save a lot of money in the long run, the BBC ends.