One of the 20,000 or so different genes in the human body is more dominant than any other. We would be little more than blobs of shapeless tissues if it weren't for it.
Most of us don't know that the molecule that defines our existence is Collagen. According to some research, a third of the proteins in humans and other mammals are made up of 28 different types of collagen.
It's not just a block of building blocks. As well as maintaining the structure of our tissues, it plays an active role in distributing signals between cells. Collagen-based materials have been used for a long time by healthcare professionals to help control bleeding.
The flexibility to still allow for movement and agility is a result of the long, spindly, flimsy-looking structures called fibrils, which provide the strength needed to anchor cells to one another.
It's a reputation that has given it a reputation as an elixir of youth because of its ability to provide strength and elasticity.
When I talk to my patients about anti-ageing, it’s not about looking younger, it’s about looking your best at your age
Between 20 and 30 the body begins to produce less and less collagen with consequences that drive the aging process. The existingCollagen picks up more and more damage because theCollagen supply is not being refreshed as quickly. Over time, our joints, muscles and bones begin to become stiff and frail.
It varies from person to person. There is a huge demand for supplements to try to replenish the collagen in our body. The industry ofCollagen powders, gummies, capsule and drinks is predicted to be worth over $5 billion by the end of the decade.
The popularity ofCollagen-based products has caught the attention of many brands. Eve Casha, chief scientific officer at London company Dermoi, says that their collagen peptides drinks are the top seller on their platform. Many people contact us to find out more about the anti-wrinkle products.
There are reports of the benefits of supplements. It is difficult to get an independent assessment of how effective certain products are, as almost all available research is funded by the cosmetics industry.
There is some evidence that skin health can be improved. Gary Goldenberg thought it was a scam when he first heard about it. There is some evidence that they can improve skin tone, skin texture, and skin elasticity as we get older.
According to Goldenberg, not all the supplements being marketed do what they claim. Many regulators, such as the FDA in the US, do not review supplements for safety or effectiveness before they are sold to consumers.
He cautions that just guzzling a few gummies isn't enough to counteract poor lifestyle habits such as insufficient sleep or smoking. He doesn't think it will make 40-year-olds look like they're 20 again. It's the wrong goal. It isn't about looking younger, it's about looking your best at your age.
The possible applications are much broader than just skin care. The Observer asked Phesi to run an analysis of clinical trials related to cosmetics, but only 5% of them were related to cosmetics. Scientists around the world are more interested in its potential to cure bone diseases and improve wound-healing and regenerating joints than it is in the consequences of old age.
The sports industry has accelerated this research over the last five years.
A representative of England Rugby contacted the exercise physiologist in order to inquire about some intriguing experiments he was conducting on NBA players.
A professor at the University of California, Davis, has been taking cells from athletes who have had an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament and using them to make a replica. He found that by adding proline and glycine it strengthened.
He says that it made sense because of the fact that there are two proline and glycines in the collagen.
Baar realized that injured athletes could be given hydrolysed collagen, a form in which it is broken down into small, easy-to-process particles, before exercising. The results were amazing. He says that they were able to reverse an athlete who had a hole in one of their muscles. That was great.
Potentially, all athletes with overused tendons can benefit from collagen supplements
He began giving advice to athletes and their advisers on how to use supplements to help regenerate bones, muscles and joints that have been damaged by training and competition. The rugby players have given good feedback. Rugby is an impact sport and you want to repair the tissues that have been damaged from heavy training or matches. The England RugbyNutritionist says he has athletes who say thatCollagen has changed their performance and their lives.
Baar is researching the feasibility of incorporating hydrolysed collagen into training programmes. Is it possible to increase the amount of collagen in the joints of athletes? Do you want to help a basketball player jump? The athletes who were given hydrolysed collagen showed improved markers of performance in terms of how quickly they could develop force, according to the study.
A lot of these findings are still being studied in a trial, something that will change very soon. On the other side of the Atlantic, a team of doctors at the Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen is currently recruiting elite Danes in either endurance or jumping sports who have injuries resulting from overused tendons, to see whetherCollagen supplements can aid their recovery and make them more resilient.
Christian Couppé is one of the scientists leading the trial. There are indications that the use ofCollagen supplement may speed up recovery. Athletes claim that they got better from their intake of the substance. Some of the reasons why we are doing this research are listed.
Researchers are curious to see if the same muscles and joints can be regenerated with the same amount ofCollagen.
Falls are the most common cause of injury-related deaths in the elderly, according to the charity Age UK. The cost of treating hip fractures that occur through falls is around $1 billion per year.
One of the reasons older people are more prone to falls is that the collagen that keeps our muscles supple in our youth is no longer being regenerated. Our joints become stiff as we get older. We can't go down the stairs because our tendons don't absorb shock as well, so you feel all of the bumps.
The scientists at John Moores University are trying to find out if giving older people supplements for four months can make them less vulnerable to tripping.
A maximum daily dose of 15g is recommended. It takes time for the body to break down the fibrils and an excess can cause headaches and fatigue. Some people can be allergic toCollagen supplements.
The ideal form and dose to take could be the subject of further research. Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects 10% of men and 18% of women over the age of 60 and scientists are trying to figure out if it can be treated with it. There are no cures except for joint replacement surgery and there is little that doctors can recommend.
Studies have shown that hydrolysed collagen can help repair damaged joints. A trial of 120 people found that a large percentage of them were seeing improvements in their mobility and joint pain. Hofseth BioCare is running a trial to see if different forms of collagen can help people with arthritis.
According to Crawford Currie, head of R&D at Hofseth Bio Care, treatment advances for osteoarthritis are lagging behind those for other diseases. Our intention is to eventually offer supplements that are easily available, low-cost, safe and which will have a meaningful effect on quality of life, but why and howCollagen seems to work has not been fully understood.
These developments could help rethink the way we think of collagen and possibly find more uses for it in the healthcare world.
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