Every few years a product comes out that touts that it is a miracle cure for aches and pains or to reverse the signs of aging.  Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t.  Now it’s collagen’s turn to securitize if it helps the body or is just a waste of money.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body.  Found in every part of the body, it provides both support and flexibility.  The problem is, as we age, collagen production decreases and cannot keep up with the body’s needs to replace collagen that has degraded.

The Big Question – Do They Work?

In theory, no, collagen supplements should not work, but studies have shown that collagen supplements can show signs of improvement in joint pain, muscle recovery, and in the skin and hair.

Collagen can help those with arthritis by decreasing the joint pain and increasing the range of motion.  Additionally, collagen can increase healing wounds, microtears and tears.  Those with rheumatoid arthritis have helped reduce joint inflammation.  Other studies have shown blood vessels strengthen whit collagen supplement use.  Benefits in the treatment of osteoporosis have resulted from use, despite the fact that taking supplemental collagen should not work as well as it does.

Do Collagen Drinks Work?

When ingested, collagen supplements break down to the amino acids.  From there, they combine with the cells depending on the needs of the body.  If taken in liquid form, there is less work for the body to do to get the collagen working and is more efficient.

Combined with other amino acids and vitamin C, it can further benefit the body by stimulating the production of collagen.  In a study in 2014, women who were taking 2.5g of Verisol, the commercial name for a hydrolyzed collagen peptide, showed a 20 percent reduction around their eyes over an eight-week period.  Those same women also showed a 65 percent increase in the procollagen levels in the body.  Procollagen is what collagen comes from when naturally created in the body.

Do Collagen Pills Work?

Those who suffer from arthritis and osteoarthritis have shown to benefit from taking collagen pills.  Much like the liquid form, there were benefits to the skin and hair when taken for several weeks.

There is still a great deal of study to do about collagen and how to increase the body’s production and repair the existing collagen.  One theory on why supplements work better than natural forms of collagen is that depending on the goal of the individual, manufactures can tailor the size of the chains of amino acids and peptides.  Through the manufacturing process, the enzymes that shape the collagen fragments do not normally show up in the body and this could be why they work better than from natural food sources.

Drinks or Pills, the delivery method really didn’t matter as much.  It comes down to personal preference.  Taking collagen supplements must be over a longer period of time with consistency to see results.  Making the method of delivery easier to the individual will increase the consistency in taking the supplement and will show better results over a shorter period of time to those who do not.