Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, making up about a third of its protein composition. It is one of the main building blocks of bones, skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Collagen is also found in many other parts of the body, including blood vessels, hair and teeth. You can think of it as the "glue" that holds all of these things together. In fact, the word originally comes from the Greek word "kólla," which means glue
studies on effectiveness
effectiveness of collagen
Occurrence and functions of the body's own structural protein collagen in connective tissue such as skin, bones, joints, cartilage
- here is an overview of research and studies.
What exactly is collagen?
Allrounder Collagen
Note: To avoid misleading information, we would like to point out that all studies refer exclusively to the ingredient collagen and not to our products.
Beauty from within
skin moisture
skin firmness
skin elasticity
Sports nutrition
protein source
Fast absorption
Unique amino acid profile
bones & joints
Bone
joints
cartilage
tendons and ligaments
personal care
Skin Care
Hair Care
Nail Care
the most important scientific studies at a glance
Simply select an application area to read more:
skin improvements
elasticity, moisture & firmness of the skin
Skin health is the best studied benefit of taking collagen: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study (12) conducted at the Cosderma Institute in France over a period of more than 56 days demonstrated the positive effects of oral intake of 10 g of collagen on skin elasticity, firmness and hydration. The results, measured with a corneometer, showed an increase in hydration of up to 14%. At the same time, an improvement in skin firmness of 11% and skin elasticity of 17% was observed.
bones & joints
relieve joint pain
Joint pain can make it difficult to exercise, which can put you off your exercise goals. Taking collagen can help get you back on track. There is some evidence that collagen can support connective tissue and reduce joint pain after exercise, as one study (1) found: Athletes with knee pain who took 5 g of collagen peptides daily for 12 weeks had less joint pain during exercise compared to a placebo group.
bone strengthening
Some studies suggest that the intake of collagen peptides (10 g for 24 weeks) can have a positive effect on bone metabolism. Collagen peptides stimulate osteoblast proliferation and collagen gene expression while inhibiting bone resorption by osteoclasts. The combination of effects leads to increased mineral density and physical strength of the bone (2,3,4,5,6). Several studies suggest positive effects of collagen peptides for older people with low mineral density, such as postmenopausal women (6). The effects on bone formation by the combined intake of collagen peptides and calcium in prepubertal children have also been demonstrated (7).
Healthy Joints
Scientific studies show that daily intake of 10 g of collagen peptides can have positive effects on the joints, relieve pain, maintain individual mobility and minimize disability. Greater effects on activity-related pain were found after 3 to 6 months of oral intake (8,9,10). Further studies report the positive effect of orally administered collagen peptides type I on the extracellular matrix synthesis of collagen and elastin by chondrocytes in cartilage (11). This leads to reduced cartilage tissue degeneration of the cartilage tissue and ultimately pain and increased mobility.
hair structure
Shiny & Strong Hair
Collagen contributes significantly to the hair growth process (14) and is an integral part of hair follicles, which we know better as hair roots. Hair roots are the smallest organ in our body and require special attention, because we have an average of 100,000 hairs on our head and around 25,000 hairs on our body. This makes hair roots clearly the most numerous organ we have. Hair roots are located in the dermis, a tough leather skin that consists of tight connective tissue and lies as an intermediate layer under the epidermis (top layer of skin). From the age of 25, our dermis becomes slack as the body's own collagen production decreases. The result is increasingly thin hair the older we get (15, 16).
Our hair consists primarily of keratin, which is dead tissue but is very robust. The body needs vitamin B choline in particular to form keratin in the hair roots. Choline is converted into the amino acid glycine, which in turn is involved in the production of collagen. Our bioactive collagen peptides are particularly rich in the amino acid glycine (17).
The amino acids in collagen also have an antioxidant effect and protect the hair roots from free radicals, which are mainly responsible for our cell aging (18). It is therefore important to avoid oxidative stress caused by free radicals, as this can impair hair growth (19). In addition, the amino acids in collagen have an antioxidant effect and can thus protect the hair follicle from free radicals (20). This is especially important as we age. Oxidative stress caused by an excess of free radicals can also severely impair hair growth (21).
nail stability
no more brittle nails
Brittle nail syndrome is a common problem in women and refers to nails that have a rough surface, cracks, and peeling. One study (23) has shown that oral intake of bioactive collagen peptides can alleviate the symptoms of brittle nails and improve the growth rate. The study involved 25 participants who took 2.5 g of specific bioactive collagen peptides once daily for 24 weeks.
The result of the study is that treatment with bioactive collagen peptides improved nail growth rate by 12% and reduced the frequency of broken nails by 42%. In addition, 64% of participants achieved a global clinical improvement in brittle nails and 88% of participants experienced an improvement 4 weeks after treatment. The majority of participants (80%) agreed that the application of bioactive collagen peptides improved the appearance of their nails and were completely satisfied with the result of the treatment.
feeling of satiety
better satiety, less hunger
Dietary protein plays a significant role in body weight regulation, in part due to its effects on satiety. A randomized, single-blind clinical trial (24) conducted with bioactive collagen peptides investigated the satiety effect of different proteins at breakfast and their effects on energy intake (EI) at lunch. This included measuring appetite profile (Visual Analogue Scales, VAS) and energy intake. The results showed a 20% reduction in energy intake, which was associated with a ~40% reduction in appetite.
list of sources
(1) January 2017 in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
(2) Kim, HK, Kim, MG and Leem, KH (2013). Osteogenic activity of collagen peptide via ERK/MAPK signaling pathway mediated enhancement of collagen synthesis and its therapeutic efficacy in osteoporotic bone by backscattered electron imaging and microarchitecture analysis. Molecules, Vol. 18, 15474-15489.
(3) Leem, KH, Lee, S., Jang, A. and Kim, HK (2013). Gelatin hydrolysate from porcine skin promotes longitudinal bone growth in growing rats. Journal of Medicinal Food, Vol. 16, Iss. 5, 447-453.
skin elasticity
(4) Proksch, E., Segger, D., Degwert, J., Schunck, M., Zague, V. and Oesser, S. (2014). Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol. Physiol., Vol. 27, Iss. 1, 47-55.
skin moisture
(5) Asserin, J., Lati, E., Shioya, T., Prawitt, J. (2015). The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 14, 291-301
skin wrinkles, anti-aging
(6) Kantor, I., Donikyan, LA, Simon, E. And Wollschlaeger, B. (2002). Results of a study evaluating the use of a dietary supplement formula in the management of age-related skin changes in women with moderate to severe wrinkling of the periorbital area. The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association, Vol. 5, Issue. 2, 10-19.
(7) Kim, HK, Kim, MG and Leem, KH (2014). Collagen hydrolysates increased osteogenic gene expressions via a MAPK signaling pathway in MG-63 human osteoblasts. Food & Function, Vol. 5, Iss. 3, 573-578.
(8) JunLi Liu, Bing Zhang, ShuJun Song, Ming Ma, ShaoYan Si, YiHu Wang, BingXin Xu, Kai Feng, JiGong Wu and YanChuan Guo. (2014). Bovine collagen peptides compounds promote the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts, Vol.9, Iss. 6, 1-6.
(9) Adam, M., Spacek, P., Hulejova, H., Galianova, A. and Blahos, J. (1996). Postmenopausal osteoporosis. Treatment with calcitonin and a diet rich in collagen peptides. Casopis Lékaru Ceských, Vol. 135, Iss. 3, 74-78.
(10) Martin-Bautista, E., Martin-Matillas, M., Martin-Lagos, JA, Miranda-Leon, MT, Muñoz-Torres, M., Ruiz-Requena, E., Rivero, M., Quer, J., Puigdueta, I., and Campoy, C. (2011). A nutritional intervention study with hydrolyzed collagen in prepubertal Spanish children: impact on biomarkers of bone modeling. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol. 24, Iss. 3-4,147 -153.
(11) Trč, T. and Bohmová, J. (2011). Efficacy and tolerability of enzymatically hydrolyzed collagen (EHC) vs. glucosamine sulfate (GS) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). International Orthopaedics, Vol. 35, Iss. 3, 341-348.
(9) Benito-Ruiz, P., Camacho-Zambrano, MM, Carrillo-Arcentales, JN, Mestanza-Peralta, MA, Vallejo-Flores, CA, Vargas-López, SV, Villacís-Tamayo, RA and Zurita-Gavilanes, LA (2009). A randomized controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of a food ingredient, collagen hydrolysate, in improving joint comfort. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Vol. 60, Iss. 1, 99-113.
(12) Clark, KL, Sebastianelli, W., Flechsenhar, KR, Aukermann, DF, Meza, F., Millard, RL, Deitch, JR, Sherbondy, PS, and Albert, A. (2008). 24-week study of the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain. Current Medical Research and Opinions, Vol. 24, Iss. 5, 1485-1496.
(13) Schunck, M., Schulze, CH and Oesser, S. (2006). Disparate efficacy of collagen hydrolysate and glucosamine on the extracellular matrix metabolism of articular chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Vol. 14, Suppl. 114, 199.
(14) SOLUGEL® clinical study on beauty from within
(15) SOLUGEL® clinical study on beauty from within
(16) Yuspa SH, Wang Q, Weinberg WC, Goodman L, Ledbetter S, Dooley T, Lichti U. Regulation of hair follicle development: an in vitro model for hair follicle invasion of dermis and associated connective tissue remodeling. J Invest Dermatol. 1993 Jul;101(1 Suppl):27S-32S. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12362567. PMID: 8326151. ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8326151/ )
(17) Yang CC, Cotsarelis G. Review of hair follicle dermal cells. J Dermatol Sci. 2010 Jan;57(1):2-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2009.11.005. PMID: 20022473; PMCID: PMC2818774. ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2818774/ )
(18) Rahmani W, Abbasi S, Hagner A, Raharjo E, Kumar R, Hotta A, Magness S, Metzger D, Biernaskie J. Hair follicle dermal stem cells regenerate the dermal sheath, repopulate the dermal papilla, and modulate hair type. Dev Cell. 2014 Dec 8;31(5):543-58. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.10.022. Epub 2014 Nov 26. PMID: 25465495. ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25465495/ )
(20) Cloudy RM. The impact of oxidative stress on hair. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2015 Dec;37 Suppl 2:25-30. doi: 10.1111/ics.12286. PMID: 26574302. ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26574302/ )
(21) Chi CF, Cao ZH, Wang B, Hu FY, Li ZR, Zhang B. Antioxidant and functional properties of collagen hydrolysates from Spanish mackerel skin as influenced by average molecular weight. Molecules. 2014 Jul 31;19(8):11211-30. doi: 10.3390/molecules190811211. PMID: 25090114; PMCID: PMC6271556. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6271556/)
(22) Cloudy RM. The impact of oxidative stress on hair. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2015 Dec;37 Suppl 2:25-30. doi: 10.1111/ics.12286. PMID: 26574302. ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26574302/ )
(23) Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails.
Article in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · August 2017 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.12393
(24) SOLUGEL® clinical satiety study
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is collagen so important?
One of the most important insoluble proteins in the human body is collagen. It makes up to a third of the protein in the body. The body naturally produces collagen, but as we age, this production slows down significantly. One of the signs that the body's collagen production has decreased is that the skin loses its elasticity, and the result is wrinkles.
How exactly does collagen help our body?
Collagen strengthens the skin and also improves hydration and elasticity. This is a positive effect because as we age, the body's own collagen production decreases, leading to wrinkles and increased dryness. Women lose up to 30% of their collagen within five years of menopause, and taking bioactive collagen peptides helps to reduce this decline.
How does collagen work on bones and joints?
Up to 240 million people around the world suffer from joint problems. The most common joint problems include tender and stiff joints. While there are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and over-the-counter medications that can help with mild joint pain, they have undesirable effects in the long term. Collagen peptides do more for the body without causing side effects. <br>
Bioactive collagen peptides can help improve joint health when age and the stress of everyday activities begin to take a toll on the cartilage. Bioactive collagen peptides can be easily absorbed by the body. This in turn stimulates collagen production in the body and ultimately reduces inflammation in the joints. In this way, many experience better mobility and less joint pain.
Why is collagen the building block of the body?
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the body. It plays an important role in making cartilage, tendons, bones and ligaments elastic. The protein also helps support the skin, which is why it looks supple and wrinkle-free. It increases bone density and strength by inhibiting the rate of bone resorption and stimulating bone formation. Calcium also binds to collagen, which means it helps reabsorb and maintain high levels of calcium in the body. In this way, collagen maintains bone strength.
How does collagen support skin, hair and nails?
Collagen is a natural antioxidant, which means it plays a role in follicle regeneration and hair growth. Although there are other causes of hair loss, supplementing your diet with collagen pills can help keep hair healthy and support its regrowth. Remember, regeneration starts from within. Collagen also plays a role in keeping your skin and nails healthy, thanks to its many amino acids. <br>
It works together with hyaluronic acid components to promote skin regeneration, hydration and support, making it essential for the health of the dermis and surrounding follicles. It also supports the skin's vessels, allowing nutrients to diffuse better into the strands. You can also use collagen to support the growth of healthy nails.
How does collagen affect digestive function?
Bioactive collagen peptides can help your digestive tract. If you are deficient in collagen, your digestive tract can be prone to inflammatory bowel disease and leaky gut syndrome. Therefore, taking bioactive collagen peptides can help strengthen the integrity of the gut.
How does collagen affect metabolism?
Collagen improves metabolism because it makes for more effective exercise, which allows for the building of new muscles. The blood vessels in the new muscles need blood, which leads to a faster metabolism. This means that any food you eat is used almost immediately and that less fat is stored in the body.
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What is the conclusion about collagen?
Collagen is an essential structural component and protein in the body. However, it plays many other roles in the body. It can help improve metabolism and digestion, keeps hair, skin and nails healthy, and helps curb joint problems. As people age, collagen production in the body decreases. To manage this reduction, bioactive collagen peptides can help.