Do you feel:

• Redden skin, especially in the palms?
• Dry or flakey skin or hair?
• Acne or unhealthy skin?
• Weak nails?
• Edema?

If you are experiencing any of these situations, then your collagen peptides might be low.

There have been new studies on how collagen can improve body composition when it is combined with daily exercises. Collagen in the body has a unique amino acid composition that plays an essential role in the body’s anatomy. Collagen protein is a concentrated source of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, and when it is being compared to all the other dietary proteins, it makes collagen a potential practical choice as a structural protein.

In a 2015 study, researchers have demonstrated how efficient collagen supplements can improve body composition in active males. The results show how each male individuals are participating in weight training at least three times a week and have to supplement with at least 15 grams of collagen peptides to achieve maximum health. The assessments that the test provide are strength test, bioimpedance analysis (BIA), and muscle biopsies. These tests make sure that the male individuals are performing well after taking the collagen supplements, and the results show how their body mass had an increase of fat-free body mass. Another study showed how collagen protein supplementation when it is combined with resistance training that can increase muscle mass and muscle strength with the elderly as well as people with sarcopenia.

Beneficial Properties With Collagen

There are many beneficial properties that collagen supplements can provide to the body when it is consumed. There are hydrolyzed collagen and gelatin and can help improve a person’s skin structure. Even though there are not many studies on collagen supplements, there are excellent promises for the areas on the body. They are:

• Muscles mass: Collagen supplements, when combined with strength training, can increase muscle mass and strength in the body.
• Arthritis: Collagen supplements can help people with osteoarthritis. Studies show that when people osteoarthritis take collagen supplements, they discovered a massive decline in the pain they were experiencing.
• Skin elasticity: In a 2014 study, it stated that women who took collagen supplements and has shown improvements in skin elasticity. Collagen can also be used in topical treatments to help improve the appearance of a person’s skin by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.

Not only collagen supplements provide beneficial properties to the specific areas on the body, but there are the four main types of collagen and what is their roles in the human body as well as their functions:

• Type 1: Type 1 collagen took account of 90% of the body’s collagen and made up of densely packed fibers that provide structures to the skin, bones, connective tissues, and teeth that are in the body.
• Type 2: Type 2 collagen is made up of loosely packed fibers that are found in the elastic cartilage, which helps cushion the joints in the body.
• Type 3: Type 3 collagen helps support the structure of the muscles, organs, and arteries that make sure that the body is functioning correctly.
• Type 4: Type 4 collagen is found in the layers of everyone’s skin and helps with the filtration in the body.

Since these four types of collagen are in the body, it is essential to know that collagen can naturally decrease over time with age since the body will produce a lesser lower quality of collagen. One of the visible signs of decrease collagen is when the skin on the human body becomes less firm and supple as well as weaken cartilage due to aging.

Factors That Can Damage Collagen

Even though collagen can decrease naturally with age, many factors can destroy collagens that are harmful to the skin. The harmful factors can include:

• Sugar and Carbs: Refined sugars and carb can interfere with collagen’s ability to repair itself on the skin. So by minimizing sugar and carb consumption in the body, it can reduce the effects of vascular, renal, and cutaneous tissue dysfunction.
• Sun Exposure: Even though getting enough sun can help a person enjoy the day, however, being exposed to the sun for an extended period can cause damaged to the skin and destroy collagen peptides. The effects of overexposure of the sun can cause the skin to photo age and produce oxidative stress in the body.
• Smoking: When a person smokes, it can reduce collagen production in the body, causing the body to have premature wrinkles, and if the body is wounded, the healing process will be slower and can lead to ailments in the body.
• Autoimmune Diseases: Some autoimmune diseases can also damage collagen production like lupus.

Conclusion

Collagen is vital for the body as it helps the skin be gentle and firm. Naturally, it will decrease as a person gets older, so taking collagen supplements can make sure that the body can function correctly. When harmful factors are affecting the body, they can stop or even damage collagen production and accelerate the process of premature wrinkles from forming, making a person look older than they are. Some products can help the body’s cellular activity by providing more excellent stability, bioavailability, and digestive comfort.

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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References:

Bosch, Ricardo, et al. “Mechanisms of Photoaging and Cutaneous Photocarcinogenesis, and Photoprotective Strategies with Phytochemicals.” Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), MDPI, 26 Mar. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4665475/.

Danby, F William. “Nutrition and Aging Skin: Sugar and Glycation.” Clinics in Dermatology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20620757.

Jennings, Kerri-Ann. “ Collagen – What Is It and What Is It Good For?” Healthline, 9 Sept. 2016, www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen.

Jurgelewicz, Michael. “New Study Demonstrates the Benefits of Collagen Peptides for Improving Body Composition Combined with Exercise.” Designs for Health, 31 May 2019, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1031.

Knuutinen, A, et al. “Smoking Affects Collagen Synthesis and Extracellular Matrix Turnover in Human Skin.” The British Journal of Dermatology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2002, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11966688.

Proksch, E, et al. “Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Has Beneficial Effects on Human Skin Physiology: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.” Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23949208.

Schauss, Alexander G, et al. “Effect of the Novel Low Molecular Weight Hydrolyzed Chicken Sternal Cartilage Extract, BioCell Collagen, on Improving Osteoarthritis-Related Symptoms: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 25 Apr. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22486722.

Zdzieblik, Denise, et al. “Collagen Peptide Supplementation in Combination with Resistance Training Improves Body Composition and Increases Muscle Strength in Elderly Sarcopenic Men: a Randomised Controlled Trial.” The British Journal of Nutrition, Cambridge University Press, 28 Oct. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4594048/.

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