Introduction:
Collagen is the protein in the body that provides support, strength, and structure to the skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissues. It is considered one of the most abundant structural proteins in animals. It provides structure and framework for cells and tissues.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is an important protein that is abundantly present in the human body. It is seen in bones, muscles, tendons, skin, the digestive system, and blood vessels. It provides elasticity to the skin and helps hold the joints. It functions as glue, holding the body together.
Collagen functions along with hyaluronic acid and elastin. It helps maintain skin elasticity, volume, and moisture. It helps in the making of proteins like keratin. This keratin is responsible for skin, hair, and nail formation.
Collagen can be used to make connective tissue. It helps to connect one tissue to another and helps to make the tissues strong, resilient, and able to withstand stretching. It comprises amino acids like proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. These combine to form protein fibrils to form a triple helix structure. Vitamin C, zinc, manganese, and copper are required to make a triple helix structure.
Collagen is naturally present only in animal flesh and skin. Many animal and plant foods contain materials that are required for the production of collagen in the body. The production of collagen decreases with increasing age. The production of collagen may be hampered due to excessive exposure to sunlight, smoking habits, excessive consumption of alcohol, and a lack of sleep and exercise.
The collagen arrangement in the deep skin layers may change from a tightly organized network of fibers to an unorganized maze. Environmental exposure may damage the collagen fibers, resulting in wrinkles on the skin surface.
What Are the Functions of Collagen?
Collagen gives structure, strength, and support to the whole body. Its functions include,
-
It helps to form fibroblasts that help grow the middle skin layer (dermis). These dermis help in the growth of newer cells.
-
Helps in the replacement of dead skin cells.
-
Helps provide a protective layer for organs.
-
Provides structure, strength, and elasticity to the skin.
-
Play a role in the blood clotting process.
What Are the Different Types of Collagen?
There are 28 types of collagen. The types of collagen are based on how the molecules are arranged, the added cell components, and where the collagen is used. Every collagen fibril contains one triple helix structure.
Important types of collagen include,
Type I: This type of collagen makes up 90 percent of the body’s collagen. It gives structure to the body.
Type II: This type is in elastic cartilage and supports the joints.
Type III: This type of collagen is present in muscles, arteries, and organs.
Type IV: This is mainly present in the layers of the skin.
Type V: This type is present in the cornea of the eyes, in the layers of skin, hair, and the placenta.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Decrease in Collagen Levels?
There are no tests available to measure collagen levels. Signs and symptoms can indicate a decrease in the levels of collagen.
These include,
-
Wrinkled or sagging skin.
-
Hallowing in and around the eyes.
-
Muscle pain and weakness.
-
Tendons and ligaments that are not flexible.
-
Mobility gets hampered due to stiffness.
-
Pain in the joints or osteoarthritis.
-
Gastric problems due to thinning of the lining of the digestive tract.
-
Blood flow may be disturbed.
The use of collagen supplements can improve these signs and symptoms. These play a role in improving skin, hair, and nails. Oral collagen forms are available in pills, powder, and certain foods. They are made up of collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen. These components can be easily absorbed. Collagen supplements comprise mainly amino acids; some may have other nutrients like vitamin C, biotin, or zinc.
What Are the Health Benefits of Collagen?
There are many health benefits, apart from helping to look good. These include,
Stronger Bones: Generally, the bones get weak and brittle with age. Consuming collagen powder daily may help improve bone density, slow the aging process that makes the bone brittle, and help produce new bone.
Skin Health: Collagen supplements can improve the skin by keeping it hydrated and improving the elasticity of the skin. It helps reduce the wrinkles in the skin.
Hair Health: Hair loss and thinning can generally be observed with age. Research has shown that daily consumption of collagen can improve hair quality, scalp coverage, and hair thickness.
Nail Health: Among a few individuals, nails break more easily than others and do not grow faster. A daily intake of collagen supplements can improve the nails by making them grow faster and reducing the number of broken or chipped nails.
Anti-inflammatory Action on Joint Health: In the case of osteoarthritis and joint pains, collagen supplements can work like a mild pain reliever and help improve joint health.
Health of the Muscles: A study has found that daily collagen intake can increase strength and muscle mass. Collagen increases the conversion of glucose into energy. This can increase lean muscle mass. The more lean muscle mass, the faster the metabolism. If collagen is taken with vitamin C, it may help this process.
Health of the Heart: A reduction in the collagen level in the body may weaken the arteries and blood vessels, causing the risk of atherosclerosis. This condition may lead to heart diseases like heart attacks and strokes. A study has shown that daily collagen supplements can help keep the arteries healthier and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and other heart diseases.
Gut Health: If any leakage is present in the gut, it may affect the whole body. This may be because of toxins that pass through the digestive tract. Collagen can help seal the leakage in the intestines and help heal the leaky gut.
Liver Health: Glycine plays a role in protecting the liver from toxins. Hence, the collagen-containing glycine helps repair the damaged liver.
Some important points to know about collagen supplements include,
-
The United States Food and Drug Administration does not approve collagen supplements.
-
Collagen supplements may not perform as they are mentioned on the label.
Conclusion:
Collagen helps achieve structure, support, and strength in the body. It is important to maintain the levels of collagen. It has many health benefits. Hence, collagen is to be given naturally through a balanced diet or through supplements to benefit the most. Hence, knowing collagen's functions, types, symptoms, and health benefits becomes important. Knowing about it and practicing to consume a proper amount of collagen may help lead a quality life.
