Menopause and Collagen Supplements

Menopause and collagen supplements

Menopause can present challenges for many women. These include the dreaded "hot flashes" - the most common symptom - and a loss of skin suppleness and bone strength. Now, a growing body of research suggests edible collagen supplements could combat the symptoms of menopause. Consequently, this could improve the quality of life for women who take them.

In addition to hot flashes during the menopausal transition, you're also faced with the acceleration of collagen loss. This causes the skin to become less supple, leading to more wrinkles. It can also lead to the bones becoming more brittle.

As well as clinical trials, there are anecdotal evidence and consumer reviews. Many support the theory that taking collagen orally can ease some of the symptoms commonly associated with menopause. Read on to find out the link between menopause and collagen supplements and what people say about how it has helped them.

How much collagen do women lose at menopause?

Our bodies produce collagen naturally, but in greater quantities when we are young. There are 28 different collagen types in the human body, but more than 90% is Type I.

Collagen makes up 33% of the body's total protein mass and is crucial for maintaining our skin's elasticity and strength. However, even by the time we're in our mid-20s, the body's natural production of collagen starts to slow down. This decrease in collagen continues throughout our life. Women in the first five years of menopause lose up to 30% of their collagen production capabilities.

It's believed this is because of a decrease in oestrogen production. There are oestrogen beta receptors in the skin’s dermal matrix that are instrumental in collagen formation.

This dramatic reduction in collagen causes the skin to become less elastic. This effect combines with hormonal changes that cause dryness as well. Consequently, skin becomes increasingly prone to fine lines, wrinkles and sagging.

For this reason, many people take collagen supplements to help keep their skin, nails, hair, bones, joints and other parts of the body in tip-top shape. It helps to retain a youthful suppleness. The evidence indicates collagen consumption may combat symptoms often associated with menopause.

How do collagen supplements help with menopause?

Taking a collagen supplement to increase the amount of collagen in our body can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The result is more youthful-looking skin. Clinical trials have concluded the results become significantly more noticeable after eight weeks, however some improvements are often visible in as little as four weeks.

Thinning hair can also occur post-menopause. For women, hair loss can impact self-confidence and self-esteem. Hair consists mainly of keratin. Since collagen contains some of the amino acids needed to build keratin, it can improve our hair's condition. Clinical trials have concluded taking collagen supplements can result in fuller and thicker hair.

Another after-effect of menopause can be aching and stiff joints. As natural collagen production slows down, this can cause joint pain. Taking a collagen supplement over a period of time can help reduce joint pain and improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Researchers have suggested collagen supplements can accumulate in cartilage. This stimulates more natural collagen production by the body's tissues. Evidence suggests women early in menopause may have a less stressful experience by taking collagen supplements.

Which is the best type of collagen for menopause?

People are turning en masse to the latest type, marine collagen, made from collagen protein sourced from fish. This is because a number of scientific studies have emerged about its effectiveness. It has a high collagen content that absorbs easily into the body.

It is also described as a more sustainable, eco-friendly product by customers, many of whom prefer it to bovine collagen. Some people can't take bovine collagen for religious reasons or ethical reasons, so prefer marine collagen.

Marine collagen is available in several different forms, including liquid, powder or tablets. It is tasteless and odourless. Part of its popularity is down to new research emerging all the time. The evidence that collagen may help delay the signs of ageing is growing. This is something that concerns many women about post-menopause.

What do the experts say?

A study in 2015 yielded interesting results about supplements containing collagen. It showed significant improvements in the depth of wrinkles, skin elasticity and hydration of the skin in women aged between 45 and 64.

A separate study concluded collagen had a positive effect on bone density. Post-menopause, a loss of bone density is common, increasing the risk of osteoporosis in later life. Trials suggested collagen supplements may:

Increase bone mineral density
Protect cartilage
Lead to less painful joints

Studies also show a collagen supplement can improvement postmenopausal women's hair volume, shine and thickness. This is hardly surprising since collagen makes up 70% of the dermis, the middle layer of our skin where the hair's roots lie.

There was an eight-week controlled study of 114 women aged 45 to 65 years. It examined the effects of taking 2.5g of collagen hydrolysate per day on the condition of the skin. The results spoke in favour of collagen supplements. In particular, the study revealed a visible difference in eye wrinkles.

What do customers say about collagen for menopause?

Many customers who have tried collagen supplements from Kollo Health have said it's amazing for menopause. Some have even described its effects on their well-being as life-changing. The comments have been extremely positive.

A 45-year-old female, in the early stages of menopause, said she had been taking a daily shot of collagen for a couple of months. She described how she was incredibly impressed with the results. It had improved the appearance of her skin, which had been adversely impacted.

Another customer said they had to "rave about Kollo". Taking collagen supplements had "changed everything". She described how her hair had grown back glossier and stronger, looking better than it had done in years. In addition, her nails had become stronger than they had ever been.

A third post-menopausal female had been taking our collagen supplement for four months. She said she couldn't believe how much better she felt. She described how she was sleeping better, had thicker and glossier hair and improved skin texture and appearance.

At the age of 51, she said her skin was softer and firmer, making her "absolutely love" ingestible collagen. She intended to continue to take it every day for the rest of her life.

A fourth female customer in her 50's had been taking a collagen supplement mixed into a glass of fresh orange juice every morning. She was "absolutely amazed" by the results. After three weeks, her hair felt "much thicker". This was a revelation after four years of suffering thinning hair due to menopause. She said she was "very excited" to be getting her hair back again.

Is collagen for menopause backed by science?

Collagen is the main protein that forms our body's connective tissues. It is crucial everywhere, from the skin's dermis to the cartilage in our joints and the muscles. The depletion of collagen during menopause accelerates with the reduction in oestrogen levels.

We experience side effects from the decline of collagen in our bodies. But we can mitigate this to slow down the impact of menopause-related collagen loss. Multi-vitamins help improve the levels of vitamins and minerals in our body. Similarly, collagen supplements can help maintain healthy levels of this vital structural protein as menopause begins.

Kollo Health's top collagen supplement, backed by science, uses 10g of Type I marine collagen peptides per dose. The formula also includes vitamins B and C, improving the collagen's absorption rate. This further enhances the body's natural collagen formation.

The Kollo formula also contains L-Lysine to boost the immune system. The combination of specially-selected ingredients aims to improve health in the skin, nails, hair, joints and bones. It is there when women going through menopause most need support.

The science behind the "anti-ageing" label suggests collagen keeps the body supple and healthier in appearance. This is important during menopause, a time of great change. Some customers choose a monthly subscription plan, investing in the structure of their body. This gives them a daily 10g dose of liquid collagen from Kollo Health.

What forms do marine collagen come in?

You can take Kollo's tasty liquid collagen supplement either as a shot or a drink. We're confident you won't find a better collagen supplement on the market.

Collagen supplements are available as drinks, tablets, powders and topical creams. Many people feel oral consumption is the best way to absorb collagen peptides into their body. After consuming collagen daily, they have reported improved skin health . This includes a reduction in sagging and wrinkles and better elasticity.

The other benefits have included:

More supple joints that feel more comfortable
An increase in muscle mass
An improvement in bone density

While there are many wonderful things about being female, going through menopause isn't one of them! Remember that collagen is an ally for females at all stages of menopause. It can be instrumental in improving skin condition and overall health.