Collagen Peptides: Younger Skin, Stronger Bones, Less Joint Pain, Stronger Muscles, and Better GI Health

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Along with providing information on whether Collagen Peptides supplements might be right for you, this article also links to Fullscript where you can buy supplements online through Fullscript’s secure healthcare formulary and get free shipping and 20% off the retail price of professional-grade supplements.

Collagen is a type of protein that is a major component of the body’s connective tissues, including skin, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. It is one of the most abundant proteins in the human body, making up as much as 25 or 30% of the body’s total protein. This high abundance of collagen in the body reflects its important role in maintaining the structure and function of many different tissues, including skin, bones, cartilage, and connective tissues.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is a fibrous protein that provides structure and support to these tissues, helping to maintain their strength and elasticity. Collagen is also an important component of bones, teeth, and blood vessels. The body naturally produces collagen, but its production can decline with age, leading to a loss of skin elasticity and joint flexibility. Collagen supplements are available and are often marketed for their potential to improve skin health, joint health, and overall well-being.

What Are The Different Collagen Types?

Collagen is a type of protein that is found in various tissues and organs throughout the body. There are at least 28 different types of collagen, but types I through IV are the most common in the human body. Here’s a brief overview of each type:

• Type I collagen: Type I collagen is the most abundant type of collagen in the human body, making up about 90% of the body’s collagen. It is found in skin, bones, tendons, and other connective tissues. Type I collagen provides structure and support to these tissues and is essential for healthy skin, bones, and joints.
• Type II collagen: Type II collagen is primarily found in cartilage and is essential for its structure and function. It provides elasticity and shock absorption to the joints and is often used in joint health supplements.
• Type III collagen: Type III collagen is found in skin, muscles, and blood vessels. It provides support and structure to these tissues and is often found in combination with type I collagen.
• Type IV collagen: Type IV collagen is found primarily in basement membranes, which are thin sheets of connective tissue that line organs and blood vessels. It provides support and structure to these membranes and is essential for their function.

Each type of collagen has a unique structure and function in the body. Type I, II, and III collagen are the most commonly used types in supplements, as they are essential for healthy skin, bones, and joints.

What Are The Health Benefits of Collagen?

Collagen peptides, also known as hydrolyzed collagen, have been studied for their potential health benefits. Here are some health benefits of collagen peptides that have been supported by clinical research:

• Skin health: Collagen peptides can improve skin elasticity, hydration, and texture, according to several studies. [PMC8824545] In one study, women who took collagen supplements daily for 12 weeks showed significant improvement in skin hydration and elasticity compared to a placebo group.
• Joint health: Collagen peptides can help reduce joint pain and improve joint mobility, according to multiple studies.[PMC7695755] In one study, participants who took collagen supplements daily for 24 weeks experienced a significant reduction in joint pain and improved physical function compared to a placebo group. [PMID:18416885]
• Bone health: Collagen peptides can help increase bone mineral density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, according to some studies. In one study, postmenopausal women who took collagen supplements daily for 12 months showed a significant increase in bone mineral density compared to a placebo group. [PMC8441532]
• Muscle mass and strength: Collagen peptides may help improve muscle mass and strength, particularly in older adults. In one study, men who took collagen supplements daily for 12 weeks showed a significant increase in muscle mass and strength compared to a placebo group. [PMC6566884]
• Gut health: In a small 8 week study, researchers concluded that taking 20 g collagen peptide supplement may have resulted in a reduction in bloating and an improvement in bowel frequency in the absence of any other dietary or lifestyle intervention or advice. [PMID: 35639457]

Of course, more research is needed to fully understand the potential health benefits of collagen peptides, and the results may vary depending on the individual and the specific type and dose of collagen supplement used.

Is Collagen Safe?

There is some concern about the potential for contamination with heavy metals or other harmful substances. To minimize the risk of contamination, it is important to choose high-quality collagen supplements from reputable brands. Collagen is generally considered safe for most people when taken in appropriate amounts. Naturally, people with allergies to certain types of collagen, such as fish or beef (bovine) collagen, should avoid these types of supplements.

Does Collagen Interact with Any Medications or Supplements?

Collagen supplements are not known to interact with most medications or supplements. However, people taking medications that affect blood clotting or blood sugar levels should always be cautious with dietary changes. If there are concerns about this, it may be best to start out by adding collagen supplements slowly over time.

Collagen supplements may have a mild blood-thinning effect, and taking collagen supplements along with blood-thinning medications or supplements such as warfarin or omega-3 fatty acids may increase the risk of bleeding. Similarly, collagen supplements may have a mild effect on blood sugar levels.

Professionals Choose the Fullscript Formulary

When your health is on the line, the Fullscript professional grade formulary is the most secure online source for the highest quality brands securely sourced to assure freshness and purity. Other online and retail options set a very low bar for quality–sometimes amazingly low. Here’s what makes Fullscript the best:

• Meticulous vetting of brand quality. Health professionals trust Fullscript to continuously monitor the quality of each item on the platform. Unlike Walmart and Amazon, you won’t find ingredients sourced from China or other questionable international locations.
• 20% Discount off the manufacturer’s retail price. When you follow any link from Supplement-Sciences.Com, you will automatically get 20% off the retail price.
• Free shipping over $50.
• Freshness. Fullscript prioritizes freshness over bulk buying even when it increases the risk of being out of stock.
• Top quality service. Phone support from knowledgeable personnel at Fullscript.

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Collagen With NR

Nicotinamide Riboside is included in this collagen product by Thorne. You can read about this on our Anti-Aging post.

What Are Food Sources of Collagen?

Studies suggest that the absorption rate of collagen from meat is lower than that of hydrolyzed collagen supplements, as the collagen in meat is in a larger and less easily digestible form. Many people have less than ideal ability to break down collagen due to low stomach acid or digestive enzyme production. Nonetheless, consuming meat is still a good dietary source of collagen and other important nutrients, and can be beneficial for overall health.