What is collagen, and what is the most effective way to take it?
There is increasing talk of collagen and its importance for our health and well-being, and rightly so. It is important to know that from the age of 25, our bodies begin to lose 1.5% of their collagen and its production slows down. For this reason, it is advisable to boost collagen production by adopting healthy eating habits, exercising, looking after your skin and taking liquid collagen supplements. In this post, we explain the best way to take collagen, as not all forms are equally effective. So take note and follow the recommendations we’ll be discussing.
What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein that has the ability to form different collagen fibres. These fibres are found in all animals and are secreted by connective tissue cells such as fibroblasts. Collagen is the most abundant component in both skin and bones, accounting for up to 25% of their composition.
How should hydrolysed collagen be taken to be most effective?
Topical applications, i.e. creams containing collagen, claim the ability to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin. However, as collagen is a ‘large’ molecule comprising long-chain amino acids in a structure that is difficult to digest or absorb, its effect is therefore limited to the surface of the skin. Oral intake of hydrolysed collagen offers an effective solution to this problem. Hydrolysed collagen consists of small, low-molecular-weight collagen peptides and free amino acids. Due to this low molecular weight, hydrolysed collagen is digestible, easy to absorb and distributed throughout the human body via the bloodstream.
When administered orally, hydrolysed collagen is digested and is not damaged by stomach acids; it reaches the small intestine where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Through the network of blood vessels, these collagen peptides are distributed throughout the human body, particularly to the dermis, where it has been shown that they can remain for up to 14 days. In the dermis, hydrolysed collagen peptides can act through a dual mechanism:
- Collagen peptides and free amino acids provide the building blocks for the formation of collagen and elastin fibres.
- Hydrolysed collagen binds to receptors on the surface of fibroblasts and stimulates the production of new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and benefits of collagen peptides on skin properties such as hydration, elasticity and wrinkle reduction.
Therefore, hydrolysed collagen is considered a valuable ally in the daily fight against ageing.
The market offers different types of collagen and ways to consume it, but GOLD COLLAGEN® is the market leader in liquid collagen, clinically proven and offering different types of drinkable collagen designed for various needs such as hair, skin, joints and bones, and the immune system... Find all our liquid collagen products here and get in touch with us if you have any questions so we can advise you on which one would suit you best.