Collagen supplements are one of the most controversial tools in the beauty and wellness world. In the search for effective ways to boost your vitality, the suggestion of simply sipping a drink, chewing a gummy, or tossing a powder into your smoothie may sound appealing, but ingestible collagen can truly improve your beauty from the inside out. Everyone wants to know if they can increase their .
Here, experts answer important questions about collagen supplements and discuss whether you can benefit from incorporating them into your health regimen.
What is collagen?
“Collagen is a multifunctional protein in the human body and a building block of the skin,” explains consultant dermatologist Dr. Alia Ahmed. “It plays an important role in the structure of the skin, providing skin elasticity, hydration, and strength.” Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, so it's responsible for how smooth and plump our skin is. It affects how you look.
Need to supplement your natural collagen levels?
Our collagen levels decrease as we age, especially as women enter menopause, leading to the natural wrinkles and lack of firmness seen in mature skin.
“Our natural collagen production declines by 1 to 1.5 percent each year starting in our early 20s, and by age 50 most people will have lost about half of their skin's collagen,” reveals the plastic surgeon. . Dr. Paul Banwell. “This can cause sagging, thinning and wrinkles,” he admits.
However, collagen loss does not occur at the same rate in everyone. “That rate is determined by a variety of lifestyle factors, including diet, sun exposure, sleep, and stress levels, as well as genetics and hormones.” daisy whitbreadA woman who is a certified registered dietitian specializing in anti-aging and beauty will explain.
This means that wearing sunscreen daily, limiting your time in the sun, and living a healthy, balanced lifestyle can help prevent collagen levels from dropping prematurely. But know that such actions are impossible. go backwardsprocess.
How do collagen supplements work?
Taking collagen supplements can help “replenish” your natural collagen levels and minimize the effects of collagen depletion.
But it's important to understand that collagen supplements do not add ingested collagen peptides directly to the dermis, but rather that the collagen peptides act as a feedback mechanism that triggers your own natural collagen production. That's important, explains Dr. Banwell.
“The presence of collagen fragments is thought to send a false signal to the body that collagen breakdown has occurred. This stimulates collagen-producing cells called fibroblasts to produce their own natural collagen. ,” says Whitbread. “It also stimulates the production of elastin (which gives skin elasticity) and hyaluronic acid (which provides hydration).”
As a result, your body's collagen levels will likely increase, which will result in healthier, firmer skin over time.
Isn't collagen too large to be absorbed into the bloodstream?
“Collagen molecules are certainly too large to be absorbed into the bloodstream, but the collagen in collagen drinks and other supplement formulations is mostly hydrolyzed,” says Tariq Karim, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California. he explains. santi london, in collaboration with Skynade. This means that collagen molecules are broken down into smaller pieces called peptides, which have very low molecular weight and are more easily absorbed in the intestines.
What is the difference between different types of collagen supplements?
Dr. Ahmed explains: “When considering oral collagen supplementation, it is important to look at the collagen source (marine or bovine), type (hydrolyzed, dipeptide, tripeptide), daily intake, and method of intake (capsules or All of these determine its effectiveness – Type 1 hydrolyzed marine collagen is scientifically proven to be the most bioavailable to the body.”
what she recommends revive collagen It contains some of the highest doses of Type 1 liquid marine collagen available. “The company's products contain 8,500 to 10,000 mg of marine collagen, as well as additional ingredients such as essential vitamins and the anti-inflammatory aloe vera.”
What is the ideal daily intake of collagen through supplements?
To reap the other health benefits of collagen, in addition to revitalizing your skin, it can help promote hair and nail growth, reduce bone mass, improve heart health, increase muscle mass, and reduce joint pain. Examples include mitigation. Research recommends that Adults consume 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen per day.
Is there clinical research behind collagen supplements?
In fact, as Dr. Ahmed mentioned above. Often times, some are the result of clinical research conducted through the brand itself, but this is not necessarily a problem, but knowing that there is a big difference between consumer testing and clinical data. An expert in skin and aesthetics, illuminate skin clinic. “Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized studies are the top tier of data and should ideally be published in peer-reviewed publications,” she says.
In this vein, “A randomized, double-blind, placebo study found that after taking collagen for 8 weeks, participants experienced an increase in skin hydration, and after 12 weeks showed decreased collagen breakdown.'' ” said the registered dietitian. clarissa lenher Here's what we tell you. Dr Banwell added: “In two independent clinical studies, the types of collagen peptides used Skynade is absorbed into the bloodstream, and a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled case study found that participants who took Skynade for 90 days had lower collagen density, skin hydration, and skin elasticity compared to a control group. I confirmed that it has increased. ” On the other hand, Dr. Shotter recommends Absolute Collagen, which is said to have undergone the most thorough research of any collagen supplement to date.meanwhile Their gold standard clinical trials After taking Absolute Collagen, 100% of participants experienced improvements in clinical measures of skin quality, and more than 60% reported that their hair was smoother, thicker, and shinier.
When should I start taking collagen supplements?
“As with most things in life, a preventative approach is best, so the sooner you start taking collagen supplements, the better. For best results, start in your late 20s to early 30s. ,” said Whitbread.
“It depends on your own goals and lifestyle, but in general consuming the drink in your 30s can be beneficial from both a strengthening and preventive standpoint,” agrees Karim.
Is ingestible collagen suitable for everyone?
Many collagen drinks are not vegetarian or vegan. That's because “collagen mainly comes from one type of fish.” [marine collagen] or pig [bovine collagen]” explains Karim. “It's often not very clear what type of collagen is used in different products and what its origins are. You often have to refer to the small print to find out.” Dr. Banwell added.
However, there are also vegan alternatives. SkinGlo Vegan Collagen Support We recommend it because it has been proven to be effective. Better Better than non-vegan alternatives in testing.famous clinic santi london conducted a three-month study on 34 people divided into three groups. One cohort took this and the other took marine collagen and was the control group. Using innovative Templar Skin LabParticipants had their collagen levels measured using ultrasound technology, and the group that took the vegan supplement reported a 16 percent increase, while the group that took marine collagen showed a 14 percent increase in their collagen scores.
Some collagen supplements are safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but it depends on the formulation, so it's important to check with each brand.
How do I know if a collagen supplement really works?
It's one thing to read successful trial results with your supplement of choice, but it's another thing to know if they're having the same effect on you. Personally It's something else. This is where technology like Santi London comes into play. Templar Skin Lab can provide valuable insight.
This advanced technology that provides skin MOT uses seven different parameters to provide a range of data on different aspects of skin health. One of them is collagen levels. Regular checks can help you evaluate the effectiveness of any supplements or collagen-stimulating treatments you've invested in.
Is focusing on a healthy diet more effective than supplements?
“To be clear, collagen supplements are not a substitute for a healthy, balanced lifestyle,” warns Dr. Banwell. “But a healthy lifestyle doesn't prevent collagen loss, so they're actually two different things. Collagen drinks are designed to trigger a physiological response in your body, regardless of your lifestyle.” It's like asking if you don't need to wear SPF to live a healthy lifestyle. Of course you do! Collagen supplements work because they protect you from anything you eat. It’s not something you get.”
As Dr. Shotter says, “the more collagen you replenish, the more your skin will age.”
In her opinion, the best results always come from a “multimodal approach.” This means using a combination of topical and ingestible products alongside professional treatments, such as in-clinic treatments aimed at stimulating collagen.
Discover more ways to stimulate collagen production here with tips from Dr. Shotter and other experts.
best collagen supplements
Absolute Collagen Marine Liquid Collagen
In the largest double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of a hydrolyzed collagen supplement ever conducted, Absolute Collagen (containing 8000 mg of hydrolyzed marine collagen) improved participants' skin evenness (reduced lines and wrinkles). (including appearance) was found to improve by 100%.
Multi-award-winning Skinade is proven to improve collagen density, skin hydration, and skin elasticity after 90 days. One bottle a day, this drink contains 7,000mg of high-quality collagen from freshwater fish and contains no artificial flavors or colors.
Vida Glow Liquid Advance Supplement
Vida Glow is based on independent clinical trials conducted by dermatologists and randomized double-blind studies demonstrating the effectiveness of marine collagen in smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, increasing skin firmness, and increasing skin elasticity. We invest extensively in research to substantiate our claims, including placebo-controlled trials.
Revive Collagen Vegan Collagen Premium Liquid Supplement
Touted as the world's first clinically proven liquid vegan supplement, this formula closely mimics human type 1 collagen. Backed by over 70 independent clinical studies and trials, 80 percent of users experienced improved skin, with a 13 percent reduction in wrinkles and a 4.6 percent increase in collagen density in just four weeks.
