Is it good to take collagen? What it does and how to choose

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It is in your skin, bones, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. That's why so many people wonder whether it's worth taking. Here we tell you what it does in the body, what studies say and how to choose one.

What collagen does in the body

Think of your bones, tendons and muscles as the pieces of a house. Collagen would be what holds them together: not like hard cement, but like a mesh that is firm and flexible at the same time.

• In the skin: it gives firmness and elasticity.
• In tendons and ligaments: it gives them strength.
• In bones and cartilage: it is part of their structure.

Why it comes up so much as the years go by

The body makes its own collagen, but with age it does so more slowly. In the skin, the sun and smoking also play a part. That's why, from a certain age, many people look to support it with food or with a supplement.

To make it, the body needs protein in the diet and vitamin C, which is needed for the normal formation of collagen.

Is it good to take collagen?

Most of the studies have been done on the skin. A 2021 review brought together 19 studies with 1,125 people aged 20 to 70 who took hydrolyzed collagen. Compared with those who took a placebo, the results were favorable for skin hydration and elasticity (see the review).

If you want to know what time to take it and for how long, we cover it here: Collagen: what time to take it and for how long.

Types of collagen

• Type I: the most abundant; it is in the skin, bones and tendons.
• Type II: it is in cartilage.
• Type III: it goes along with type I in the skin.

Each supplement's label tells you what type it is and where it comes from (beef, fish…).

How to choose one

• The form: liquid, powder or capsules. Liquid and powder are mixed with water or juice; capsules are swallowed.
• Grams per serving: check on the label how much collagen each serving has, not just the size of the bottle.
• Hydrolyzed or peptides: it is collagen broken into smaller pieces.

An example: Neocell Pomegranate Liquid Collagen has 4 g of "BioActive NeoCell Collagen Peptides™ (from Grassfed Bovine)" per 15 mL tablespoon. On the front it says "Hair, Skin & Nails Support*".

*"This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."

Where to find it

All the collagen products we carry are in Collagen Products.

For more details, call us at 787-304-0458.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.