Collagen Supplements - Do They Work?

Collagen supplements have become one of the most talked about substance, which are often regarded as one of the best solutions to mankind's battle against the aging process. Right from cosmetic surgery, burn surgery, wound surgery, to reconstruction of bones, there is a wide range of medical and industrial uses of collagen supplements. 'Do they work?' is still a debatable question though. But before discussing it, let's have a brief look at what is collagen and what is its function in our body.

What is Collagen?
Collagen is a fibrous protein of the connective tissues that provides support to all tissues and cells of the body including skin, hair, nails, bone, muscles, tendons, etc. Together with keratin and elastin, it maintains skin elasticity and makes it appear smooth, tight and supple. It also plays a crucial role in bone health and strengthens the blood vessels and cartilage. But, with growing age, the production of this important protein slows down, which causes the skin to lose its youthful elasticity, giving rise to the appearance of problems like wrinkles and fine lines. Such a reduction in collagen production can also cause joint pain.

What are Collagen Supplements?
Collagen supplements comes in the form of pills, injections or as liquid and they promise to compensate the age-related reduction in collagen production. They claim to help to slow down the aging process by replenishing the level of collagen in the body and thereby to maintain a more youthful look and vigor. These anti-aging supplements are generally derived from the tissues of animals like cow, chicken or pigs.

But the effectiveness of most of these supplements is yet to be proven, and hence the query, 'do collagen supplements really work?' does not have a definitive answer.

Do Collagen Supplements Work?
As has been mentioned already, the benefits of collagen supplements is a controversial subject. Many studies have claimed that they fail to produce the desired results, especially when used for counteracting the effects of aging on skin. This is probably because collagen molecules are so large with complex molecular structure, that they cannot be absorbed by our skin. Even if they are absorbed, problems arise in their assimilation with the natural collagen produced by our body.

Therefore, many people are of the opinion that skin care products that contain collagen or collagen supplements are not very effective to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Instead, certain substances like functional keratin and nano-lipobelle can help to stimulate collagen production. Hence such substances have shown more efficacy in reducing wrinkles and fine lines as compared to collagen supplements.

However, people with arthritis and degenerative arthritis have reported to have benefited from collagen supplements. A significant reduction in joint pain and increase in mobility have been experienced by many individuals after taking collagen supplements. These supplements are found to be effective in reducing joint inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Another important benefit of collagen supplements is that they can strengthen the blood vessels and thereby improve circulation. Some studies carried out in animals have pointed out that collagen supplements can be useful in the treatment of osteoporosis as well.

For retaining youthful look and vigor, one should maintain a healthy eating habit. Regular exercises can play a significant role in providing relief in age-related diseases like arthritis. Equally important is to drink plenty of water and consume a balanced diet that includes lots of minerals, antioxidants and vitamins. Vitamin C has the ability to boost the natural production of collagen. Similarly, lysine, an essential amino acid can also help in this regard.

So, basically there is unanimous opinion regarding the utility of collagen supplements. Do they work only for geriatric illnesses or are they equally effective in skin care? Most of the experts are of the opinion that collagen supplements for skin are not effective. Rather the anti-aging skin care products that contain certain natural substances like keratin can prove more beneficial, as they stimulate the body's natural production of collagen.

However, for some age-related diseases like arthritis, osteoarthritis, they can be helpful in alleviating the symptoms. But as they are manufactured from the tissues of cows, pigs and chicken, and can also contain yeast, shellfish, wheat, gluten, soy etc., adequate care should be taken by people having allergies to these food products. So, before taking any kind of supplements, always consult an expert health care practitioner to know the various aspects like benefits, side effects, as well as how to improve their functions.