Skincare Tips: What Are Collagen Peptides?

Small protein fragments derived from animal collagen are known as collagen peptides. Among the components of skin, bone, and cartilage is collagen. Whole collagen proteins are broken down into smaller bits to create collagen peptides. Collagen peptides appear to accumulate in the skin and cartilage when taken orally. This may help alleviate certain joint and skin issues.

Osteoarthritis and ageing skin are treated with collagen peptides. Along with numerous other uses, they are also used to treat osteoporosis, brittle nails, and muscle weakness. In this article, we discuss the uses of collagen peptides and share all that you need to know about it.

What is collagen?

The most prevalent protein in your body is collagen. It makes up roughly 30% of the total protein in your body. The main component of your body's tendons, ligaments, muscles, skin, and other connective tissues is collagen. It's also present in the lining of your intestines, blood vessels, and organs.

Amino acids are used to create proteins. Collagen is primarily composed of three amino acids: hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline. These amino acids come together to form triple-helix protein fibrils. To form the triple helix, your body also need the appropriate concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese, and vitamin C.

It explains why skin is elastic but stiff at the same time, and why bones are strong but can tolerate certain force. The body produces some of these amino acids on its own. Others originate from the foods high in protein that you eat. In instance, collagen needs vitamin C in order to keep the fibres together. Unfortunately, as we age, our bodies naturally produce less collagen, which adds to the ageing indicators that most of us prefer to avoid, such wrinkles.

What are collagen peptides?

Collagen was first found in topical treatments, which were sold as a means of restoring lost collagen and delaying the ageing process of the skin. However, due to the size of collagen, which is a pretty large molecule, these goods were criticised by specialists. It's unlikely that something so big could penetrate deep into the skin layers where it's needed or be absorbed by the skin.

By hydrolysing collagen into collagen peptides, much smaller strings of the amino acids that make up collagen and current collagen supplements avoid the problem. These shorter chains can be powdered or encapsulated in pills for oral use, as they are more easily absorbed.

Are collagen peptides effective in boosting skin health?

Research has indicated that the gastrointestinal tract absorbs collagen peptides. Additionally, they have demonstrated that this leads to an increase in amino acid levels, suggesting that the peptides are truly broken down and added to the pool of accessible amino acids.

Finally, for collagen supplements to have any chance of helping, you'll need to make sure you're getting enough vitamin C in your diet because it's necessary for the synthesis of collagen.

In the end, there are still more questions than answers regarding collagen supplements. Further studies are required to validate the veracity of the stated advantages.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.