The journey of collagen from supplement to skin

Supplementing with a quality Marine Collagen can support skin hydration, elasticity, replenish collagen levels and help reduce the visible signs of ageing, but how exactly does it do this? Let’s take a look at the functions and mechanisms of collagen for skin health to understand what Marine Collagen does on its skin journey.

How collagen works in the skin

Collagen works in two ways in the skin. Firstly, it supplies the building blocks for collagen and elastin production and secondly it holds together the cells in the connective tissue in the skin to produce collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Collagen supplements have been found to regulate skin functions and can therefore be useful in the treatment of skin ageing. 

Marine Collagen has an anti-ageing effect on human skin demonstrated through a recent clinical trial revealing a significant increase in skin elasticity in a group of women aged 35-55 years. The same group of scientists also demonstrated a substantial reduction in skin wrinkles after daily consumption of a collagen hydrolysate.

The importance of the skin

The human skin is the largest organ of our body, covering 1.5-2.0 square meters. It functions as a physical barrier to protect the body from pathogens, chemicals and UV radiation throughout life. 

Collagen benefits

As a functional food, collagen has been shown to have important physiological functions with a positive impact on health. Studies have shown an improvement in skin elasticity, recovery of lost cartilage tissue, reduced activity-related joint pain, stronger tendons and ligaments and increased bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. These studies have researched supplementation with doses from 2.5 - 15g of bioactive collagen peptides over 3 to 18 months. 

Its function

Collagen is the most abundant part of the extracellular matrix (a network that provides support to surrounding tissues). It determines skin physiology, maintains skin structure and supports smooth, firm and strong skin. 

How?

Internal and external factors drive the physiological process of skin ageing linked with a decline in collagen. In young and healthy skin, collagen has been shown to be above 75%! Collagen fibres are made mainly by the fibroblasts in the deep layers of the skin (they help to produce collagen proteins and play a role in wound healing). 

References:

Paul C, Leser S, Oesser S. Significant Amounts of Functional Collagen Peptides Can Be Incorporated in the Diet While Maintaining Indispensable Amino Acid Balance. Nutrients. 2019;11(5):1079. Published 2019 May 15. 

Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(1):47-55. 

Bolke L, Schlippe G, Gerß J, Voss W. A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2494. Published 2019 Oct 17. 

Vollmer DL, West VA, Lephart ED. Enhancing Skin Health: By Oral Administration of Natural Compounds and Minerals with Implications to the Dermal Microbiome. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(10):3059. Published 2018 Oct 7.