Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is an essential connective tissue structure, including bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and cartilage. Collagen also improves skin, hair, and nails. Collagen has been shown to improve skin elasticity, improve joint mobility, decrease joint pain, and more. 

Collagen surrounds bones and cushions them to protect them from impacts. Collagen comprises about 60% of cartilage, and its breakdown can lead to loss of cartilage and joint problems. Humans lose about 1% of collagen per year, and our bodies become less effective at replacing the losses. The loss of collagen can be due to various aging reactions within the body, including hormonal changes, which can lead to wrinkles, age-related dryness or worsening cellulite appearance. 

What is collagen?

Collagen is a combination of amino acids (glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline) and can be combined with other amino acids.

Who needs more collagen?

Our bodies make less collagen as we age when exposed to sun exposure, smoking, excess alcohol, and lack of sleep, high stress (physical stress such as exercise as much as mental stress like chronic stress or burnouts). You can also use collagen if you want to improve:

• Your skin health

• Your joint health

• Your gut health

• Reduce the appearance of cellulite

  • Studies have found supplementing with hydrolyzed collagen peptides can significantly boost skin elasticity. One randomized, placebo-controlled study found specific collagen peptides oral supplementation contributed to improved human skin physiology, hydration, and density. All of which will help to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

• Improve wound healing

• Compensate for high stress: Cortisol (stress hormone) induces collagen loss in the skin (10x more than other tissues)

• Manage hunger and weight loss

What to consider

There is a hype around collagen, and the downside is the production of products that contain unknown ingredients, including heavy metals. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration does not review supplements for safety or effectiveness before being sold. 

When digested, collagen is broken down into amino acids by the stomach's acidity. However, when we look at supplements, the availability of the micronutrient is important. They remain by increasing the amount of these specific amino acids, whether combined in a collagen form or destroyed into amino acids. 

Collagen vs. Gelatin vs. Hydrolyzed Collagen

Collagen and gelatin are similar. They contain the same amino acids, and gelatin is actually derived from collagen. The triple helix of collagen becomes gelatin when heated. Then the enzymatic digestion of gelatin leads to collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen. The more broken down, the easier to digest and absorb by our body, making hydrolyzed collagen more easily absorbed than collagen or gelatin. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary for collagen synthesis. Collagen’s triple helix configuration formation requires an enzyme, which needs iron and ascorbate (vitamin C) to function. Vitamin C is also required for the hydroxylation of a lysine residue. The hydroxylysyl residues allow cross-linking. Vitamin C may also influence mRNA levels needed for collagen synthesis. This explains the combo benefits.

Click here to view Joulance Collagen: Hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides

Click here to view Joulance Vitamin C: Ascorbic acid, calcium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate) + Hesperidin + Quercetin + Rutin

Always share to your healthcare providers the dietary supplements you’re taking, such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural or home remedies. This will help them manage your care and keep you safe.

References:

1. Varani, J., Dame, M. K., Rittie, L., Fligiel, S. E., Kang, S., Fisher, G. J., & Voorhees, J. J. (2006). Decreased collagen production in chronologically aged skin: roles of age-dependent alteration in fibroblast function and defective mechanical stimulation. The American journal of pathology, 168(6), 1861–1868. https://doi.org/10.2353/ajpath.2006.051302

2. Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin pharmacology and physiology. 2014;27(1):47-55.

3. Kim DU, Chung HC, Choi J, Sakai Y, Lee BY. 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 Jul;10(7):826.

4. Bello AE, Oesser S. Collagen hydrolysate for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other joint disorders: a review of the literature. Current medical research and opinion. 2006 Nov 1;22(11):2221-32.

5. Schunck, M., Zague, V., Oesser, S., & Proksch, E. (2015). Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology. Journal of medicinal food, 18(12), 1340–1348. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2015.0022

6. Proksch E, Schunck M, Zague V, Segger D, Degwert J, Oesser S: Oral Intake of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides Reduces Skin Wrinkles and Increases Dermal Matrix Synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2014;27:113-119. doi: 10.1159/000355523

7. Scarano, A., Sbarbati, A., Amore, R., Iorio, E. L., Ferraro, G., & Amuso, D. (2020). A New Treatment for Local Adiposity with Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl-Palmitate Solution: Clinical and Histological Study. Aesthetic plastic surgery, 44(5), 1604–1612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01865-1