What Are the Benefits of Taking Collagen Peptides?

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that makes up 25-30% of the protein in your body and provides structure to connective tissues.

While there are plenty of natural food sources for collagen, many people use collagen supplements instead of, or in addition to, getting it in their diet.

Supplements like Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides claim to support skin and joint health or make it easier to achieve your fitness goals, but what will they do for you?

Collagen is categorized as a structural protein because it helps provide structure to your connective tissues (like skin, tendons, and muscles). While your body usually produces enough collagen to maintain your connective tissues, collagen levels decrease over time, increasing your risk of conditions like osteoarthritis and elastosis unless you get more from external sources.

However, collagen has many health benefits – even in younger people not at risk of collagen deficiencies – and products like Vital Proteins collagen peptides supplements claim to “promote a youthful appearance” or even help you lose weight. However, are all the purported Vital Proteins collagen peptides benefits true, and what scientific evidence supports these claims?

How Does Collagen Work?

As a major component of connective tissues like skin and muscles, collagen acts like a glue to hold your body’s cells together with other proteins like elastin and fibrillin. Together, these proteins provide vital structure to your skin, muscles, and joints, helping to protect your body against physical damage and age-related degradation.

While connective tissue cells called fibroblasts naturally produce and maintain collagen, your collagen will become fragmented, and your fibroblast function will decline as you age. Subsequently, many people use Vital Proteins collagen peptides to replenish natural stores of collagen and treat signs of aging, such as joint pain and wrinkles.

The Difference Between Collagen and Collagen Peptides

While many people use the terms “collagen” and “collagen peptides” interchangeably, they are distinct forms of collagen, and peptides are believed to be more beneficial in supplements like Vital Proteins collagen peptides powder. Collagen peptides are short chains of amino acids made by breaking down full-length collagen molecules into shorter, more bioavailable molecules, so your body can absorb and use them more easily.

The main difference between the collagen (sometimes called “collagen protein”) and collagen peptides is that collagen peptides are more bioavailable. Because of their shorter amino acid chains, it’s much easier for your body to break them down into a usable form, making them highly desirable for supplements like Vital Proteins collagen peptides.

RELATED: Learn more about the differences between collagen peptides and collagen protein and their nutritional benefits here.

Other Health Benefits

• Hair and Nails: Collagen is a vital protein for your hair and nails and may prevent brittleness and even help your hair and nails grow longer.
• Gut Health: Although there is little scientific evidence, collagen supplements may help treat leaky gut syndrome, also known as intestinal permeability.
• Weight Loss: Collagen is believed to support healthy weight loss indirectly, though there is little evidence that it can promote weight loss on its own.

Conclusion

Collagen supplements like Vital Proteins collagen peptides have many health benefits, including some that may surprise you, from clear skin to healthy joints and (potentially) weight loss! Furthermore, collagen supplements are widely considered safe, and common side effects are mild, such as stomach discomfort from higher doses.

However, it’s important to note that collagen can only be found in animal sources, and vegetarian or vegan ‘collagen supplements’ rely on ingredients like amino acids which support your body’s collagen production. Subsequently, vegetarians and vegans should consider taking dietary supplements like Vital Proteins collagen peptides powder to maintain healthy collagen levels.

And as always, we strongly recommend talking to your doctor if you are concerned about your health, as collagen supplements are not medically proven to treat conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis.