Collagen hydrolysate or hydrolyzed collagen supplements contain amino acid peptides (building material for protein), predominantly hydroxyproline, praline and glycine. It’s hydroxyproline and proline that makes collagen unique and is only found in one other protein substance – elastin. For hydroxylation of praline to occur, and become suitable for the body to use in joints and connective tissue, ascorbic acid must be present. This means that collagen supplements should include vitamin C.
Types of Collagen
The body produces many different types of natural collagen depending on the area (29 types have been documented), including type I collagen that’s used as one of the main components of bones, skin, tendons, ligaments and artery walls, and type II that’s used for cartilage and therefore affects joints. However various types work alongside each other in closely related structures, for example type III usually goes hand-in-hand with type I.
The Uniqueness of Fibrous Protein Structures
Collagen, despite being a protein, acts very differently from other proteins because it’s fibrous – forming extremely tough structures that support tissue, give strength and elasticity to skin, bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, the cornea of the eye and muscles. Collagen creates what may be likened to a spider-web or spun silk – a fiber that has enormous tensile strength and flexibility. It affects all forms of body movement, muscular development, skin texture, bone strength, and may even influence the way the body handles weight related issues.
Commercial Hydrolyzed Collagen Supplements
With collagen being such an essential ingredient in how we function, it’s no wonder collagen hydrolysate and hydrolyzed collagen supplements have been developed from animal substances, primarily bovine (some fish / chicken) sources. However, Reserveage makes vegetarian capsules that are not collagen but a Collagen Booster.
Does Supplementation Replenish Collagen in the Body?
While artificial techniques to create collagen have been successfully used to grow skin grafts in laboratories, the question of oral collagen supplements to help osteoarthritis, joint pain, post-workout muscle recovery, and aging skin is still being tested, and to date, there has not been much success. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why collagen supplements don’t appear to offer consistent positive results.
Clinical Tests
Some clinical evidence suggests that patients with hip, knee and joint pain (often suffering from osteoarthritis) who have been given concentrated pharmaceutical collagen hydrolysate, notice increased levels of hydroxyproline, however not significantly greater than those given placebos. There have been minor positive results when calcitonin and collagen supplements were used in combined therapies. (Calcitonin is a thyroid hormone that regulates how the body metabolizes calcium and phosphorus – lowering blood calcium levels and curbing osteoclast action in bones, regulating vitamin D and even having an affect on appetite and how satiated one feels after eating.) Despite a few isolated positive examples, studies indicate that placebos administered to participants were equally as effective as the collagen supplementation given.
Combining dosages of the amino acid glucosamine, and chondroitin (a primary structural element that the body uses to build cartilage), has been studied in an effort to find an effective treatment for arthritic pain, joint problems and to help restoration of deteriorated articular cartilage. To date, when these supplementary elements have been administered to participants in placebo controlled trials, no evidence has been found to support the hypothesis that oral glucosamine and chondroitin help the body produce collagen to repair or build cartilage, and there are only minor favorable results in using them to ease joint pain.
(Source: British Medical Journal – BMJ. 2010 Sep 16;341:c4675. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c4675. Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: network meta-analysis. Wandel S, Jüni P, Tendal B, Nüesch E, Villiger PM, Welton NJ, Reichenbach S, Trelle S. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20847017
The Problem with Taking Pre-fabricated Collagen
While collagen supplements theoretically should, and in some individual cases do, help joint pain, muscle recovery and provide a treatment for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, clinical evidence on its effectiveness is not favorable. One of the reasons that oral collagen supplementation doesn’t appear to be as effective in reality (as opposed to how it should work theoretically) is due to the way the body breaks down ingested substances into basic amino acid structures. Taking a substance that’s already “collagen” has little effect because the digestive process simply views it as food and breaks it down into basics elements to be used as needed. This means that eating amino acid – rich foods would have a similar effect. It appears clear that the body can’t utilize readymade collagen and place it immediately into connective tissue, bones, joints, cartilage and skin. Furthermore, the majority of the 22 amino acids (used for protein and collagen) are produced (synthesized) by the body on its own, with 20 of them being indelibly connected to the genetic code, and only 8 (considered to be essential amino acids) e supplied by food / oral sources and absorbed through the digestive process.
Cosmetic Collagen Products – Oral and Topical
Oral collagen supplements for skin, hair, nails and other body parts are subject to the same problem: digestion and re-converting the supplement into amino acids, therefore the same advice can be given: take an amino acid supplement or eat foods that help the body make its own collagen.
Applying collagen topically is a waste of money (and collagen cosmetic products aren’t cheap). The skin can’t absorb collagen in a cream, liquid, gel, or other topical form. The only way to boost skin elasticity is to give your body what it needs to make collagen by eating amino acid-rich foods and/or supplements that boost the body’s overall health. The bad news is that skin elasticity levels and collagen production is on a biological time clock (and also connected with hormone production). There comes a point when the body ceases producing sufficient collagen to keep skin tight, toned and wrinkle-free. Women (and men) who want to remain wrinkle free after middle age may need to try the latest injectable procedures to fill fine lines and wrinkles, consider cosmetic surgery or high-tech facial rejuvenation treatments.
Hope for Oral Enzymatically Processed Collagen – Amino Acids
There are some oral collagen formulation on the market that claim to have been enzymatically processed, in other words, the collagen is delivered in an amino acid form that the body (theoretically) can absorb and utilize. Although clinical studies show inconclusive results, there are many individuals who claim to have benefited from amino acid supplementation. For some individuals, it may be worth testing personally since there are almost no side effects to taking oral collagen supplements. While clinical studies haven’t been able to substantiate results, the individuals who claim most benefit from taking oral amino acids and collagen boosting products are those with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis who suffer with chronic joint pain, and athletes who want better muscle recovery after intense workouts.
For more information on specific joint supplements see related posts that take an in-depth look at the top anti inflammatory supplements on the market.
- Are there any joint pain supplements that actually work?
- What’s the best joint supplement for those who suffer from chronic pain or restricted movement?
- What about taking methylsulfonylmethane (also known as DMSO2 / methyl sulfone / dimethyl sulfone / dimethyl sulfoxide as offered in the popular MSM supplement?
Continue reading to discover answers to these and other question that pertain to bones, joints, and osteoarthritis treatments.
Example Products:
1. Neocell Laboratories Super Collagen Plus C / Type I and III collagen supplements with vitamin C
2. Reserveage Collagen Booster (60 vegetarian capsules)
3. Hydrolyzed Collagen by Dr. Bernd Friedlander (Power in 1 lb. format)
4. BioCell Collagen II (Chicken Sternal Cartilage plus Chondroitin Sulfate & Hyaluronic Acid) by Olympian Labs
5. Amino Collagen C with Hyaluronic Acid (Flavorless fish collagen) 2 month supply of powdered supplement made from fish peptidse, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, Cellulose, and magnesium stearate.
6. Type II Collagen Immucell by NeoCell Laboratories (contains hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin. And includes Kolla2 derived from chicken cartilage) 120 capsule format (recommended dosage 4 caps for joints)
7. Myo-Tone (Enzymatic treatment for ligament tendons / muscles) by Enzymatic
8. Arthred by Source Naturals / Joint Formula containing 19 amino acids for building cartilage
9. Unflavored Beef Gelatin by Great Lakes / Collagen Joint Protein (Kosher) 2 X 16 ounce cans
10. Glycine by Now Foods (amino acid) 100 capsules
11. MSM supplement by Spring Valley (90 capsules with 1000 mg)
