Collagen supplements can do fantastic things for your body, and there are plenty of reasons why you could benefit from taking collagen on a daily basis. One significant area where collagen can help is in looking after your joints and bones, especially as you get older. This blog explores the role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease and how collagen supplements can support your bones and joints.
What is collagen?
Collagen is a pure protein that’s the main substance in connective tissue. It’s the most abundant protein in the body but your natural collagen production decreases as you age. Collagen supplements can be instrumental in combatting this. Most collagen products and supplements are derived from cow or pigskin, but marine collagen is also available, which is derived from fish skin.
Collagen hydrolysate, also known as hydrolised collagen or collagen peptides, is collagen that has been broken down into amino acids that are more easily absorbed by the body. Collagen hydrolysate is frequently found in the form of a powdered dietary supplement.
Collagen hydrolysate for osteoarthritis
Recent studies have indicated that taking a daily supplement of 10g of collagen hydrolysate can cause a noticeable reduction in pain for patients who have osteoarthritis in the knee or hip. Collagen plays an important role in bone strength and mineral density, leading to an improvement in symptoms for patients with osteoarthritis.
Studies have also found that collagen hydrolysate supplements are more effective for joint and bone diseases than proline supplements alone. Proline is an important amino acid that can help you to build lean body mass. The greater uptake of collagen hydrolysate into cartilage compared to proline alone indicates that collagen hydrolysate can have a positive effect on cartilage metabolism, the reactions needed to produce and promote healthy cartilage.
Collagen hydrolysate and calcitonin
Collagen hydrolysate supplements
There’s evidence to suggest that collagen and collagen hydrolysate supplements could be a worthwhile long-term treatment for people who have osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Another benefit is that these supplements have virtually no negative side effects. If you suffer from these conditions, are concerned they might develop in the future, or simply want to protect the health of your bones and joints, choosing a collagen supplement could really be beneficial.
As well as supporting your bones and joints, collagen supplements have plenty of other benefits too. Collagen is great for your skin, helping to keep it hydrated and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It can also help you to build up your muscle mass and improve your athletic performance, making it a great supplement to take every day.