The curious case of collagen

What is this collagen that celebrities are swearing by? Is it a potion of health or a youth elixir? Experts decode this new fitness fad.

Some time ago actor Halle Berry, who is one of the poster kids for age-defying physique, revealed her fitness secret in a recent Instagram post. She attributed her covetous health to collagen. She even shared her personal bone broth recipe in the same post. Even Jennifer Aniston had recently shared that she adds collagen powder to her morning smoothie.

Collagen helps slow down the ageing process. (Photo: Istock; For representational purposes only)

We spoke to experts to know more about the effects of collagen on our overall well-being.

What is collagen?

“Collagen is a protein. In simple terms, they are the building blocks of our skin, muscles and joints,” says Dr Geeta Fazalbhoy, dermatologist, Skin N You Clinic.

There are various types of collagen. One that makes up the skin and muscles is the type 1 collagen. Being a protein, it helps strengthen and impart elasticity to tissues. Also, it replaces dead cells, and is basically the glue that holds the body together.

Additionally, collagen helps slow down the ageing process. “With age, we all tend to develop wrinkles, sagging skin, weaker cartilage, etc. This is because collagen levels in our body starts depleting.

Methods of intake

Dr Shuba Dharmana, dermatologist, Lejeune Medspa, lists three primary ways of collagen intake:

Oral: Sachets, powders and capsules

Topical: Creams containing collagen can be applied on skin

Chemical peels: A chemical exfoliation of the skin using alpha or beta hydroxy acid by dermatologists.

However, it is essential to first consult and know what is best suited for one’s needs. “Hydrolysed collagen is made of much smaller molecules, hence the claim that they can make a better difference than non-hydrolysed collagen supplements. Large collagen molecules can’t be absorbed in the gut and can’t enter the blood stream. Therefore, if you are looking at collagen supplements, hydrolysed collagen is probably better,” says Indrayani Pawar, dietician, Hinduja Healthcare

Surgical, adding, “However, oral supplements of collagen are still controversial as there are no satisfactory studies yet that prove it can be completely utilised by the skin and hair.”

Rather than going for collagen supplements, Pawar suggests one to include foods that can help maintain the integrity of collagen in the body. These would be foods high in vitamin A (carrots, papayas, mangoes), foods high in vitamin C (citrus fruits and berries), green leafy vegetables and soya bean.

Non- vegetarians can opt for fish containing omega 3 fatty acids (mackerel, tuna, salmon, etc.).

When to avoid?

Just like any other food items, collagen may have side effects when consumed without prescription. Dr Deepti Bagree, nutritionist, Reset: Holistic Living Concepts shares some of the harms of excessive collagen in one’s system:

1. Collagen derived from marine sources can increase calcium in the body leading to health issues. Marine derived supplements may lead to aftertaste leaving an unpleasant taste on tongue

2 Individuals allergic to egg, shellfish may show hypersensitivity reactions after consuming the supplements from these sources.

3. Long-term effect on pregnant women and children has not been studied and they should best avoid this. People who have kidney disorders should also avoid it.

The collagen test

“One should perform a skin test to determine if they are sensitive to collagen. During the test, small amount of collagen is injected in to the forearm and the area is then monitored for roughly a month. If swelling, redness or itching occurs, than the patient is probably not an appropriate candidate for collagen treatment,” says Dr Saumya Shetty Hegde, dermatologist, Roots Skin Clinic.

With inputs from Dr Zamurrud Patel, dietician, Global Hospitals and Poonam Pawar, nutritionist, Purenutrition.me.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more
The author tweets @iamsusanjose