Collagen is maybe the most typical protein within the animal world. It is just chargeable for about 4 p.c of our physique weight. If we joined collectively all of the collagen fibers in our our bodies, it could 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 reputation. Collagen is a extremely 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 frequent in our physique, as it’s largely chargeable 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 chargeable for holding your whole physique’s cells collectively and offering tissues with structural assist, a substrate for progress and extra.
Collagen’s function on this matrix is considerably much like that of metal rods in concrete in fashionable buildings. The truth is, collagen fibers may be 5-10 occasions stronger than metal, and might face up to stretching as much as half their size with out tearing.
Just like many different proteins, collagen fibers are manufactured from smaller protein chains. These chains coil collectively in a triple helix of three collagen models, and the 2 spirals are twisted collectively into very sturdy braids.
Though the essential models are 330 nanometers (billionths of a meter) lengthy, single collagen fibers may be a number of millimeters lengthy—an enormous dimension for a single molecule.
Collagen is present in all tissues of the physique, however its focus is especially excessive in tissues that require important structural energy, resembling pores and skin, bones, enamel, tendons, muscle mass, 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 now have a pores and skin wound, the collagen fibers will probably be lower and realigned to restore the injured tissue.
Nevertheless, the restore course of shouldn’t be with out accidents, and extra collagen build-up within the pores and skin could go away a scar.
In inside organs, the buildup of collagen could result in a situation known as fibrosis, through which collagen fibers, much like a scar, displace wholesome tissue, impairing the operate of the organ. Fibrosis can have an effect on many physique methods, particularly organs such because the lungs, kidneys, coronary heart, and liver.
In recent times, dietary dietary supplements containing collagen have grown in reputation. Just 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 could 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 not hurt us – fibrosis develops resulting from lack of collagen removing 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 totally different function; It’s not meant to be absorbed by the pores and skin, however slightly acts as a water absorbent so as to retain moisture and thus enrich the cream. Collagen shouldn’t be distinctive on this function, and is usually changed by derivatives of nutritional vitamins, lactic acid, varied alcohols, and different molecules.
However the actually vital level is that the collagen in these dietary supplements will merely not attain its vacation spot, as a result of it will likely be damaged down earlier than lengthy.
Within the late Nineteen Seventies, it was discovered that collagen, much like different proteins, is hydrolyzed within the digestive tract into its constituent amino acids, and due to this fact its consumption by ingestion is much 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 massive protein, and consequently it can not cross the intestinal partitions the place it’s speculated to be absorbed (it could 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 may be absorbed by the physique, they don’t seem to be collagen, in the identical approach that shards of glass don’t operate just like the plate they had been as soon as a part of.
That is why there is no such thing as a benefit to consuming collagen-derived amino acids as an alternative of amino acids and peptides derived from any protein-containing meals.
Nevertheless, the provision of those dietary supplements is consistently rising, and it is no surprise – the worldwide magnificence complement market is anticipated to succeed in seven billion {dollars} by 2024, and producers have a robust incentive to develop new merchandise.
In an impartial research of 176 dietary dietary supplements, physicians from the us discovered that the majority of those merchandise included outdated dietary suggestions and made medical claims that weren’t supported by impartial analysis research.
Of their report, the researchers emphasised that the businesses had been capable of make such claims due to the comparatively average 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 should be examined for potential results on pregnant ladies, drug interactions, and extra.
A overview by harvard medical faculty sheds some mild on the standing of collagen dietary supplements and illustrates the significance of impartial scientific research. The overview revealed that a lot of the research revealed to this point on the exercise of collagen dietary supplements have been funded by the complement producers themselves.
Probably the most vital components for the credibility of scientific analysis is its independence, that’s, the authors of the research should not involved with acquiring a particular outcome.
When a research on a dietary complement is funded by the corporate producing it, notably when the corporate is actively concerned in that analysis, there may be concern that the research will probably be essentially 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 workers of the corporate itself, and in a single research credit score was given to the CEO of the corporate. Nevertheless, research on collagen dietary supplements have did not display that there’s a distinction between consuming collagen and a balanced consumption of proteins as a part of a balanced food 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 is no such thing as a proof {that a} vegan food plan has any type of impact on the manufacturing of proteins and collagen by the physique, so long as it comprises the proper proportions of important amino acids.
The significance of scientific analysis to understanding the world is gigantic. Nevertheless, 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 impartial method.
In a subject with such excessive financial incentives, the obvious absence of impartial research is especially irritating and doesn’t bode nicely for the need of those dietary dietary supplements.