Collagen supplements

In the last year or so, I’ve noticed a definite increase in the number of new clients who take collagen supplements for their hair, skin, and nails.

Because I consider everything about them when I’m forming a treatment plan, I give them my advice on collagen supplementation, which many are grateful to hear because it’s not exactly a cheap ‘habit’. (Other clients, of course, just think I’m a big ‘party pooper’ 😉)

I tell them what I’ve always told my clients — I’m not a fan of ‘taking’ collagen. And that based on what they’ve told me about their general health, it’s not something I would have prescribed them.

I tell them, that if they want ‘nice’ hair, skin, and nails then we have to improve their overall health. (Which I’ll explain in detail below.)

But before I get into my spiel…
Have you read some of the blog-posts, and articles on this stuff?

They all bang-on about exactly they same things (in pretty much the same order):

They tell us what collagen is;

that while it’s the most abundant protein in the body – that we’re seemingly deficient in it from our 20s (however, that isn’t necessarily true – more on this below);

that there are many types of collagen that make up the different structures in our body;

that it’s the glue that holds our bodily bits & pieces together;

that the collagen they’re selling comes from either a marine source or from moo-cows;

that their collagen is hydrolysed into peptides;

and (some may even say) they have “research” or a “clinical study” that proves that collagen is truly ‘magical’.

They’re all just copying each other with this collagen spiel. This concerns me, as this is how misinformation is spread.

And, more than this, it greatly worries me that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can easily source this stuff, repackage it, and promote it to the masses.

Note: Are we really expected to believe that collagen supplements work based on some website & instagram photos? Show me the “research” or “clinical study” that you refer to, not some well lit, photoshopped photos of the genetically gifted!  Although they probably won’t specify this information because the experts (medical specialists, and doctors) are saying there isn’t enough good evidence, at this stage (2019), to support taking collagen supplements¹.🧐

These collagen-pushers are all just trying to quickly leverage this current trend, by 1) preying on ‘younger’ women in order to create fear and dissatisfaction – thus creating a new target audience, and 2) by taking the stuff, and adding something different to their ‘marketing formula’ so that you’re more likely to purchase their product rather than the competition. By tweaking the packaging and the product; by promoting and pricing it differently, they’re able to appeal to different people. And, by making it seem more special, they can charge you a premium. (Because we all know that foo-foo ‘beauty products’ must be better, right?😋)

The thing is though, most people (unless they’re vegetarian or vegan) aren’t interested in what it is, and how it works. They just want to know one thing:

Will it make me more beautiful?!

To this end, many proponents of collagen supplements tell you that they have proof that it works, because this stuff “makes its way into your blood”.

But, I’ll just come straight out with it:

If only it were that simple.

When you take a collagen supplement, your aesthetics are the last thing your body will be worried about enhancing.

They’ve only given you half the story.

So, you (or your friend, or your favourite social media person), have deemed it necessary that you take a collagen supplement to improve the shoddy appearance of your hair, skin, and nails.

Or, you may be simply taking it in the hopes you’ll stave off the inevitable — the aging process.

Or, you may just be forking out for this stuff because you think you should.

Or, you may be taking a collagen supplement because you feel the need to keep up with the Jones’s. 🤪

Note: Come on, admit it… you’re not really taking collagen powder for your bones, joints, or gut health – well, at least, not primarily.

Now, the theory seems plausible enough: if you take a particular collagen supplement it will be used to improve that corresponding collagen structure in your body, right?

Nup.

That’s not quite how it works, sorry.

Collagen, is a particular type of protein structure.

Note: There are a number of varieties of collagen…just read the collagen spiels.

Normally, when protein is taken into the body the stomach breaks down these structures into polypeptides – small chains of amino acid sequences. However, because most collagen products are pre-hydrolysed (or come in Peptides), this ‘step’ has been made redundant.

Note: This process must account for the high cost of your collagen supplement. Because, essentially, you’re just consuming a waste-product from the fish or ‘cow’ industry 😉

polypeptides then move to the small intestine where they are further broken down into the various amino acids, or rather the individual units that make up these protein chains.

From here the amino acids are transported across the gut lumen, and liberated into the blood, to ultimately be reconfigured into a variety of protein structures.

Let me be real clear here.

Your precious (expensive) collagen, once it’s broken down, isn’t actually collagen anymore…

Hell, it’s not even protein anymore!

It’s just a bunch of amino acids that your body uses as the ingredients to make whatever protein structures that it sees fit (and healthy).

If you actually needed to take collagen (especially in your 20s & 30s) then this would indicate that your health was not up-to-scratch (please see more below). Therefore it is highly likely that your body would use this pool of amino acids to make more pressing protein structures like, oh, I don’t know, those that keep your vital organs intact, or those protein structures that regulate your body e.g. antibodies, neurotransmitters, and hormones.

So, it is far more likely that your body will use this collagen product for its other purported uses (to improve bone, joint, and/or gut health)  rather than to strengthen your hair, skin, and nails.

Note: I have never recommended anyone take a collagen supplement for bone, joint, and/or gut health just FYI. And, I’ve been a practicing, full-time Naturopath for 13 years…

The only way to increase the chances that your body uses the collagen you give it for your ‘beauty accessories’ is to make sure that you are generally healthy to begin with. This way your body knows that this ‘collagen offering’ is surplus to requirement².

But, then again…
If you were actually healthy to begin with you probably wouldn’t really need collagen supplements now, would you? As indicated by your full head of shiny hair, your clear, glowing skin, and your long, strong nails 😉

Since publishing this blog-post, I’ve been contacted by a natural health practitioner, who has questioned my take on collagen supplements, citing all the research that’s ‘out there’ that contradicts what I’ve said, and asking me to provide supporting evidence.

There is of course no evidence ‘against’ collagen supplements — at this stage, at least. As this product is set to become a multi-billion-dollar industry this year… it is highly unlikely that anyone who stands to benefit from these sales will fund a study disproving the efficacy of these supplements!

However, There’s a big difference between statistical significance in a laboratory and clinical significance in practice.

Just because there have been a lot of studies done on the subject, it doesn’t necessarily mean the research is relevant or of good quality. Therefore, it’s very important when you’re assessing scientific literature that you evaluate it holistically — regardless of what ‘camp’ you reside in (Orthodox health or Natural health).

My colleague also provided me with several studies that at first glance, contradict my point of view.⁵

However, none of these studies (or the studies that I looked at prior to writing this blog-post) fit my personal Naturopathic philosophies.

I would need to know the quality of the diet (protein, veggies, water) that the ‘healthy’ participants were consuming prior to, and during the study.

Note:  When orthodox medicine/science refers to ‘healthy’ subjects this simply means they don’t have a disease – it doesn’t mean they are actually healthy.

While it sounds impressive that all the studies are “randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled”, unfortunately this doesn’t help me.

I would need to know how collagen supplementation performs:
— vs generally improving the participant’s diet
— vs simply ensuring the participant’s dietary protein intake is adequate
— vs other (cheaper) protein supplements
— vs decreasing the person’s stress and/or decreasing their over-exercising
— vs improving their immune function and/or improving their ‘beauty’ sleep
— vs supplementing with the likes of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Biotin, and/or Zinc (well established supplements which have many beneficial actions in the body other than just improving skin.)

Several of the supplied studies were paid for by collagen/gelatin suppliers, which is also a concern, and is probably why none of these factors have been included in any of the studies.

Regardless of these clinical studies, I won’t be recommending collagen supplementation until the science can show me that consuming it is actually necessary.

I also won’t be recommending collagen supplementation until there’s sufficient long term evidence that indicates that taking a ‘pre-digested collagen supplement’ (hydrolysed/peptides) – which effectively ‘forces’ this product into our body – won’t cause imbalance, or even damage in the body over an extended period of time to our other organs e.g. kidneys, and heart, and our vasculature.

Note: None of the provided studies used test subjects in their 20s, or males for that matter. In many cases in these studies ’no safety concerns’ was determined by the participant not experiencing any gastro-intestinal distress such as nausea or vomiting. (This product is formulated to be easily digested.) Most studies were short-term (12 weeks). The longest duration of testing was (only) for 24 weeks. (Collagen supplement suppliers encourage you to take it every day – with no end date.)