Collagen is probably the commonest protein within the animal world. It’s only liable for about 4 % of our physique weight. If we joined collectively all of the collagen fibers in our our bodies, it will attain a size of about 100 trillion (1014) meters—a distance so nice that if we tried to cross it on the pace of sunshine, the endeavor would take us roughly 4 days.
In recent times, dietary dietary supplements containing collagen have been rising in recognition. Collagen is a very spectacular protein, however do we actually want it as a complement? To reply this, we should perceive what collagen does in our our bodies and the way it’s produced.
It’s no coincidence that collagen is so widespread in our physique, as it’s largely liable for the integrity of our our bodies and the energy of our tissues.
That is as a result of collagen is the principle constructing block of the extracellular matrix – the gathering of fibers, enzymes and polysaccharides liable for holding your whole physique’s cells collectively and offering tissues with structural help, a substrate for progress and extra.
Collagen’s function on this matrix is considerably just like that of metal rods in concrete in fashionable buildings. The truth is, collagen fibers will be 5-10 instances stronger than metal, and might stand up to stretching as much as half their size with out tearing.
Much like many different proteins, collagen fibers are made from smaller protein chains. These chains coil collectively in a triple helix of three collagen items, and the 2 spirals are twisted collectively into very robust braids.
Though the essential items are 330 nanometers (billionths of a meter) lengthy, single collagen fibers will be a number of millimeters lengthy—an enormous measurement for a single molecule.
Collagen is present in all tissues of the physique, however its focus is especially excessive in tissues that require vital structural energy, akin to pores and skin, bones, enamel, tendons, muscle tissue, and blood vessels.
Due to its function in these tissues, it’s no surprise that collagen is intimately concerned in harm restore processes. For instance, when we’ve got a pores and skin wound, the collagen fibers can be lower and realigned to restore the injured tissue.
Nonetheless, the restore course of just isn’t with out accidents, and extra collagen build-up within the pores and skin might go away a scar.
In inside organs, the buildup of collagen might result in a situation known as fibrosis, by which collagen fibers, just like a scar, displace wholesome tissue, impairing the perform of the organ. Fibrosis can have an effect on many physique techniques, particularly organs such because the lungs, kidneys, coronary heart, and liver.
In recent times, dietary dietary supplements containing collagen have grown in recognition. Much like all different proteins in our our bodies, collagen is produced in our tissues on demand, when they’re being constructed or replenished, and due to this fact we don’t want an exterior extra of collagen.
Even when we had such a necessity, the quantity of protein in meals dietary supplements may be very low, if not utterly negligible, and won’t have an effect on the functioning of the physique within the least.
On the upside, and for a similar motive, this complement can’t hurt us – fibrosis develops as a result of lack of collagen elimination and breakdown, and beneath regular circumstances extra collagen is damaged down into its constructing blocks.
Collagen is utilized in cosmetics in lotions, however there’s a completely different function; It’s not meant to be absorbed by the pores and skin, however relatively acts as a water absorbent so as to retain moisture and thus enrich the cream. Collagen just isn’t distinctive on this function, and is usually changed by derivatives of nutritional vitamins, lactic acid, numerous alcohols, and different molecules.
However the actually essential level is that the collagen in these dietary supplements will merely not attain its vacation spot, as a result of will probably be damaged down earlier than lengthy.
Within the late Seventies, it was discovered that collagen, just like different proteins, is hydrolyzed within the digestive tract into its constituent amino acids, and due to this fact its consumption by ingestion is just like the consumption of another protein in our meals.
Furthermore, collagen itself doesn’t include an distinctive quantity of important amino acids, so even when we lack the constructing blocks of protein, there are extra available sources within the meals we eat.
Moreover, most collagen dietary supplements don’t include collagen in it is complete kind in any respect. As talked about earlier, collagen is a really giant protein, and consequently it can’t cross the intestinal partitions the place it’s purported to be absorbed (it will be very unhealthy if it did).
To allow its absorption, producers break down collagen into its constructing blocks — quick protein fragments known as peptides and even particular person amino acids. Though these fragments will be absorbed by the physique, they don’t seem to be collagen, in the identical means that shards of glass don’t perform just like the plate they had been as soon as a part of.
This is the reason there isn’t any benefit to consuming collagen-derived amino acids as an alternative of amino acids and peptides derived from any protein-containing meals.
Nonetheless, the availability of those dietary supplements is consistently rising, and it is no surprise – the worldwide magnificence complement market is predicted to achieve seven billion {dollars} by 2024, and producers have a robust incentive to develop new merchandise.
In an unbiased research of 176 dietary dietary supplements, physicians from the us discovered that almost all of those merchandise included outdated dietary suggestions and made medical claims that weren’t supported by unbiased analysis research.
Of their report, the researchers emphasised that the businesses had been in a position to make such claims due to the comparatively reasonable management of dietary dietary supplements, in distinction to medical remedies that should meet extra stringent necessities.
The researchers additionally be aware that whereas these are solely dietary dietary supplements, they don’t seem to be with out danger, and nonetheless have to be examined for potential results on pregnant ladies, drug interactions, and extra.
A assessment by harvard medical faculty sheds some mild on the standing of collagen dietary supplements and illustrates the significance of unbiased scientific research. The assessment revealed that many of the research revealed so far on the exercise of collagen dietary supplements have been funded by the complement producers themselves.
One of the crucial essential components for the credibility of scientific analysis is its independence, that’s, the authors of the research aren’t involved with acquiring a particular end result.
When a research on a dietary complement is funded by the corporate producing it, significantly when the corporate is actively concerned in that analysis, there may be concern that the research can be basically biased, as a result of it’s clear that the producers have an enormous stake within the success of their merchandise.
The truth is, many research’ creator lists included staff of the corporate itself, and in a single research credit score was given to the CEO of the corporate. Nonetheless, research on collagen dietary supplements have did not exhibit that there’s a distinction between consuming collagen and a balanced consumption of proteins as a part of a balanced weight-reduction plan.
Due to this fact, our physique is a well-oiled metabolic machine. Thus, it is ready to convert proteins absorbed from meals into their constructing blocks – amino acids – and produce complete physique proteins.
Collagen is simply present in meals of animal origin, however regardless of this there isn’t any proof {that a} vegan weight-reduction plan has any form of impact on the manufacturing of proteins and collagen by the physique, so long as it incorporates the appropriate proportions of important amino acids.
The significance of scientific analysis to understanding the world is gigantic. Nonetheless, science itself can be a product of human exercise, and due to this fact it’s not with out prejudices. Due to this fact, it’s essential that scientific analysis be carried out in a clear, sincere and unbiased method.
In a area with such excessive financial incentives, the obvious absence of unbiased research is especially irritating and doesn’t bode properly for the need of those dietary dietary supplements.