Does collagen really work?

The Science of Marine Collagen

Kollo Health’s collagen supplement contains premium marine collagen peptides, so-called ‘Type 1’ collagen. In a Japanese consumer study, 52 healthy women with ordinary skin took this type of collagen every day for four weeks. Scientists kept track of the women’s perception of their skin and joint health, with statistically significant improvements in skin health and joint pain during and after the study.

A second study in France demonstrated similar effects, this time in women in their fifties and sixties split into two groups, with the benefits of the collagen supplement tested against those of a placebo for twelve weeks. Again, benefits to the skin were observed beyond those offered by the placebo treatment, specifically with wrinkles, skin elasticity, and hydration.

While no single scientific study should be taken as conclusive, evidence in these cases points to the efficacy of collagen treatments for skin and joint pain.

The History of Marine Collagen

Throughout human history, we have understood the value of collagen to our health, though perhaps in less scientific terms. Of course, we knew in antiquity the positive effects of fish on our health — which has long been known to be packed with essential proteins, oils and vitamins. Kollo Health’s collagen is produced from the scales of the same saltwater fish people almost everywhere have always derived essential nutrition.

Once, our grandmothers might have sang us the praises of organ meats and bone broths. Back then, they might have been required to provide us with sufficient quantities of crucial amino acids and vitamins, but modern collagen supplements, like Kollo Health's marine collagen, provide us with a far less labour-intensive and relatively cruelty-free means of ingesting sufficient quantities of the 18 amino acids we need to build new collagen and maintain muscle health, as well as vitamins B and C.

The Benefits of Marine Collagen

Helps With Skin Hydration

Our skin becomes thinner, drier, and wrinkled as we get older and deplete our collagen reserves. Supplementing with type 1 marine collagen helps restore the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Hydrolysed collagen works with hyaluronic acid to prevent water loss from the skin and provide a barrier to trans-epidermal water loss. According to this study, subjects had significant clearing of their crow’s feet after using hydrolysed collagen for 12 weeks. Additionally, their skin elasticity improved after six weeks into the study.

Collagen Has Anti-ageing Properties

A study conducted by CPCAD, an independent clinical pharmacology centre in Nice, France, proved that hydrolysed collagen helps firm up the skin, prevent moisture loss and improve overall health and wellbeing. With healthier skin, individuals can handle the damage from UV light, pollution and other environmental factors.

Collagen Has Anti-inflammatory Qualities

The abundance of collagen in our bodies helps it maintain and improve connective tissue health. Connective tissue suffers damage from general wear and tear, harsh environments, accidents and illnesses, and collagen reserve depletion. Collagen supplements provide the body with anti-inflammatory properties, while helping in collagen synthesis. Therefore, there is the cyclical benefit of more collagen in the body, leading to better health and wellbeing.

Collagen Helps Maintain Lean Body Mass

The reduction of collagen in the body leads to wearing off lean muscle mass. In this study, 28 individuals with an average age of 62.5 years took collagen supplements for 24 weeks. Afterwards, a combination of lean body mass measurements, short exercises and the chair stand test revealed significant improvement in overall physical function. A placebo group test was also conducted to show the differences and impact of collagen supplementation.

Collagen Improves Joint Health

With age comes the risk of osteoarthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and reduced mobility in the joints. Osteoarthritis is common in people aged 65 years or older due to reduced collagen. In a new study, patients reported reduced symptoms of osteoarthritis, such as knee pain and stiffness after taking collagen supplements daily for 12 weeks.

What Is the Best Collagen?

Collagen supplements come in many forms. There are available in powder, pill and liquid form. Out of the three, liquid collagen is the most recommended, and here are a few reasons why:

Single Serve Ready-To-Use Product

Liquid collagen comes fully prepared and is ready to drink. For example, our Premium Liquid Marine Collagen comes ready in a sachet, all you have to drink is tear and drink.

Ease of Supplementing

The presentation of Kollo Health’s Premium Liquid Marine Collagen sachets containing 10,000mg of marine collagen ensures it is simple to take the correct dose. As such you don’t have to worry about overdosing or underdosing.

Great Flavour

Although Kollo Health’s Premium Liquid Marine Collagen is made from fish, it doesn’t taste like fish. It comes in a delicious flavour that you’ll love to taste every day.

Faster Absorption

Liquid supplements have a smaller molecular structure compared to powder or pills. This allows your body to absorb collagen and other nutrients faster.

Choosing the Right Supplement

One way to ensure your collagen supplement is working to the best of its ability is to ensure it is of sufficiently high quality. While some collagen supplements may be cheap, they can sometimes only contain a limited number of the 18 amino acids your body requires to make new collagen, limiting the benefits to your skin and joint health.

Another way to ensure you are seeing the full benefits of any course of collagen supplements is to ensure your body has the ingredients it needs to repair itself and its cells and make new collagen. Three of these keystone ingredients for bodily health and collagen production are vitamin C, B vitamins, and l-lysine.

Even balanced diets can sometimes lack these ingredients, but one way to ensure you get them while you’re on the go is to take a supplement that contains them as a starting ingredient.