As age advances, different conditions begin to show in the bones and joints.
If these negative changes progress, they lead to the appearance of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis.
Therefore, it is important to detect it early and apply measures that contribute to slowing down the advance of the problem.
Today’s topic is hydrolyzed collagen and the different benefit options offered by its consumption.

Talking about bones

Bone is made up of several tissues, the main one being bone tissue.
The inorganic matrix provides hardness and among its main components we find minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
Within the organic matrix of bone, 94% is composed of collagen.
The aforementioned minerals adhere to this collagen structure.
Without this support structure, the bone lacks solidity.

On the other hand, osteoporosis is a chronic and asymptomatic disease characterized by low bone mass, deterioration of skeletal microarchitecture, increased risk of fracture and associated comorbidities, being more prevalent in the elderly.
Due to the increasing aging of the population, osteoporosis has become a major health problem that requires innovative treatment of the disease.

The facts

A study was designed with the aim of investigating the effect of hydrolyzed collagen on bone metabolism, especially in the perspective of the treatment of osteoporosis.
It was carried out in vivo in female mice that were ovariectomized or simulated oophorectomy.
The study subjects were 12 weeks old and they were fed for 12 weeks on a diet containing 10 or 25 g/kg of hydrolyzed collagen.

Bone mineral density for mice fed the hydrolyzed collagen diet was significantly higher compared to control mice.
The blood level of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, a marker of bone resorption, and alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly when mice were fed either diet containing hydrolyzed collagen.
Finally, a significant increase in bone strength correlated with geometric changes was demonstrated for ovariectomized mice.
DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2009.10.035

Collagen can contribute to improving bone density

Orally administered collagen can be digested in the gut, cross the intestinal barrier and enter the circulation, and become available for metabolic processes in target tissues.
In this way, it can be speculated that a diet enriched with collagen provides benefits for bones and joints in the human body.
In addition, collagen-derived products such as gelatin or hydrolyzed collagen are recognized for their nutritional safety.

In another systematic review of scientific literature, the aim was to demonstrate the antiosteoporotic and antiarthrosis effects of hydrolyzed collagen.
The conclusion was that daily doses equivalent to 12g of hydrolyzed collagen have a positive therapeutic effect on osteoporosis and osteoarthritis with a potential increase in bone mineral density, a protective effect on joint cartilage, and especially in symptomatic pain relief. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-9823.2016.14145

In addition, combined oral administration of hydrolyzed collagen with calcium and vitamin D has been reported to have better effects on bone health than solitary administration of the elements.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135019

Does it only work on osteoporosis and osteoarthritis?

As you well know, at Salengei we never stop at just one approach.
That is why we have continued to investigate and below, we present a list of different beneficial effects of hydrolyzed collagen and their supporting scientific correlate.

Improved antioxidant capacity

Hydrolyzed collagen has good antioxidant activity as demonstrated by in vitro tests (DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.08.058).
Intake of hydrolyzed collagen also increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the body, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione-peroxidase, and catalase (DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.8098)

Anti-aging effect

The anti-aging effect of collagen has been extensively researched in several animal models.
Beneficial effects have generally been seen, including increased skin hydration, decreased formation of deep wrinkles, and improved skin elasticity after taking 10 g of hydrolyzed collagen once daily for more than 6 weeks (DOI: 10.2174/1876396001508010029).
It should be noted that the effect of hydrolyzed collagen against aging is most evident in women over 30 years of age.
The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects may be involved in the dual effects on the synthesis and degradation of skin collagen.

Improves wound healing

Oral administration of marine hydrolyzed collagen has been reported to improve skin wound healing and angiogenesis in rats.
(DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.4435).
In addition to the elevated expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Fibroblastic Growth Factor-2, the effect of hydrolyzed collagen on the fibroblast may be one of the mechanisms underlying the improvement in wound healing, as a previous study reported that Proline-Hydroxyproline, a collagen-derived dipeptide, exerts a chemotactic action on fibroblasts and stimulates their proliferation.

Anti-inflammatory effect

Glycine is one of the main structural units of collagen, accounting for one-third of amino acids. Hydrolyzed collagen has the ability to reduce inflammatory responses.
(DOI: 10.3177/jnsv.56.208).
This effect may be due to inhibition of the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines through glycine-gated chloride channels (GlyR).

Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

The antihypertensive effect of hydrolyzed collagen has been reported in experimental animals and clinical trials (DOI: 10.1271/bbb.120718).
Oral administration of collagen-derived Glycine-Leucine-Proline significantly decreases systolic tension by inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE).
Another study found that oral administration of collagen tripeptide had an inhibitory effect on the development of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits (DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2014.10.011).
It is known that platelets are involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
In this case, hydrolyzed collagen has inhibitory activity on platelet release and aggregation, which may justify the potential application of this supplement to prevent and/or treat atherosclerosis and thrombosis. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.13317

ACTIVE PROCOLLAGEN PLUS

One of our star products is Active Procollagen Plus , which contains Peptan®F 5000LD, a high-purity hydrolyzed type I collagen with a protein content of more than 97%. Active Procollagen Plus is a powdered supplement that contains a high concentration of type I collagen peptides from fish, the same collagen found in bones and skin.
Peptan® collagen has a low density molecular weight (5000 Da), and thanks to this, it provides excellent solubility and absorption.

In addition, another component is calcium, which is provided by Lithothamnium calcareum, an algae that belongs to the group of marine red algae of the Coralineceae family.
They develop at great depths and during their growth stage they absorb nutrients and minerals from the sea.
Algae contain 10 to 15 times more trace elements than their terrestrial counterparts.

Vitamin C, another component of our Active Procollagen Plus, is key in the formation of collagen, as we have discussed in detail in other posts.
Our product contains 500mg, which provides several times more than the daily nutritional requirements.

Other components are the
magnesium, glucosamine, methylsufonylmethane (an organic form of sulfur that helps strengthen connective tissue); the
ellagic acid (derived from pomegranate, with powerful antioxidant action),
hyaluronic acid that provides hydration to the skin and joints; the
bamboo extract, which provides organic silicon, one of those components of inorganic matter that provides hardness to the bone, as well as nails, and hair; hesperidin, vitamin D3 that is necessary for calcium to be absorbed at the intestinal level and vitamin K2 necessary for calcium to crystallize in the bone and not in the arteries and various trace elements and amino acids such as L-arginine, L-lysine very useful for its synergistic action.

We have recently improved the formula of Active Procollagen Plus.
In particular, we have reduced the magnesium content from 400 mg to 300 mg (an optimal and sufficient daily intake) and replaced the sweetener sucralose with steviol glycosides for better tolerance.
The rest of the ingredients that make up the product are maintained, so we continue to offer you a high-quality product.

Conclusion

Until some time ago, hydrolyzed collagen was only ingested for aesthetic purposes, due to its proven effectiveness in reducing wrinkles and strengthening the collagen matrix visible in the skin.
But after countless investigations, it has been shown that these effects are just a few of others with deeper organic bases and that they have a positive impact on physiological functions.
That is why incorporating a dose of 11 grams of Active Procollagen Plus into daily meals promotes overall health.