A lot is heard about the great properties of hydrolyzed collagen. To its distinguishing features belong high absorbability, as well as a low probability of allergy. Is it worth drinking hydrolyzed collagen and what does the studies say about it?
Hydrolyzed collagen – benefits
Some products are simply a trend and one reaches for them without much thought – especially if they are recommended by influencers or celebrities. However, it’s worth looking a little deeper and finding out whether the effectiveness of a particular supplement has been backed up by research. We took hydrolyzed collagen under the microscope to see what it can really do for health and beauty.
We began by looking at an article published in late 2019 in Molecules, a scientific journal that publishes research in the fields of organic chemistry and natural product chemistry.
In it, the researchers point out the existence of at least 28 types of collagen, with type I collagen most commonly found in skin, bones, teeth, tendons and ligaments, type II collagen in cartilage, and type III is found in skin, muscles and blood vessels. It plays a role in tissue structure, which translates into skin and tensile strength of ligaments.
When collagen is hydrolysed, the bonds in the polypeptide chain break. The result are low molecular weight collagen peptides. Therefore, hydrolysed collagen is characterized by high bioavailability and is easily distributed in the human body. It can be used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries and as an ingredient in nutraceuticals.
Why should you drink hydrolyzed collagen?
Oral collagen supplementation correlates with collagen loss in the human body. Scientists point out that reduction of production of this protein begins between the ages of 18 and 29, and in 80-year-olds a decrease in collagen production has been observed by as much as 75 percent compared to younger people.
What causes the body’s collagen production to decline? The article cites the following factors:
- bad diet
- free radicals
- smoking
- drinking alcohol
- diseases
Meanwhile, the role of collagen in the body is difficult to overestimate. It supports the development of organs, wound healing, affects the eye cornea and gums, builds bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, skin and human hair.
A decrease in collagen results in wrinkles, but – here’s the good news – hydrolyzed collagen prevents skin deterioration, has the ability to retain water, and improves firmness and elasticity.
Oral collagen supplementation – studies
The researchers also refer to other studies confirming the effectiveness of oral supplementation of hydrolysed collagen, including the works:
- Asserin J., Lati E., Shioya T., Prawitt J., The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: Evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. J. Cosmet. Dermatol. 2015;14:291–301
- Kim D.-U., Chung H.-C., Choi J., Sakai Y., Lee B.-Y., Oral intake of low-molecular-weight collagen peptide improves hydration, elasticity, and wrinkling in human skin: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Nutrients. 2018.
What do they reveal? In vivo studies in women aged 40 to 60 who took oral hydrolyzed collagen supplements for 12 weeks showed significant improvements in skin hydration, wrinkle reduction and elasticity. The studies also observed a protective effect on joints.
Hydrolysed collagen for joint disease and osteoporosis
The effect of hydrolyzed collagen in the context of joint disease was further developed in the work of R. W. Moskowitz (Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease). Referring to German, English and American studies in which patients were given collagen hydrolysate or placebo, he concluded that taking hydrolysate may have potential role in the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. He also noted its high safety. As is well known, people suffering from joint ailments should carry out supplementation for a longer period of time, so dedicated preparations cannot cause any serious side effects.
Bibliography:
- Arely León-López, Alejandro Morales-Peñaloza, Víctor Manuel Martínez-Juárez, Apolonio Vargas-Torres, Dimitrios I. Zeugolis and Gabriel Aguirre-Álvarez, Hydrolyzed Collagen-Sources and Applications, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6891674/.
- R. W. Moskowitz, Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11071580/
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