Summer and skin health go together like a cold beer on a hot day!  So to that end, we took a deep dive into collagen to get the facts on what you need to know in order to choose the best product for your skin this summer.

We took our questions to one one of our professional-line natural medicine companies, Cyto-matrix, and asked their team what we should look for in a good collagen.  They gave us the skinny on collagen and helped us bust the myths around this trendy supplement. Here’s what we learned:

Marine Collagen versus Bovine Collagen

DCIM: What’s the difference between marine collagen and bovine collagen?  Is it all just marketing hype?

Cyto-matrix: The difference between marine collagen and bovine collagen is their source: marine collagen comes from fish skin and bovine collagen comes cow hides.  Both contain Type 1 and Type III collagen.  Both have published clinical studies in humans and both are effective.  However, a consumer / patient will need to ingest 5.0 grams daily of marine collagen to achieve the same results as 2.5 grams of bovine dermal collagen peptides. Therefore you need twice as much marine collagen to get the same results.

Benefits of collagen

DCIM:  Why is collagen beneficial?

Cyto-matrix:  Collagen is beneficial because it provides provides a nutritional “signal” to connective tissues cells. This signal causes connective tissues cells to increase their collagen production.  Collagen also provides a biologically active source of the amino acids proline, hydroxyproline and glycine.  In fact, research shows that a dipeptide or tripeptide of glycine is between 9 to 12 times more bioavailable than the free form of glycine (L-glycine).

The research behind collagen

DCIM:  What does the scientific literature say about the benefits of collagen?
Cyto-matrix:  Published research studies show collagen works by:
  • increasing hemoglobin and microcirculation
  • stimulating the proliferation and motility of fibroblasts
  • increasing the density and the diameter of collagen content
  • increasing hyaluronic acid production
  • protecting against damage from UV radiation and photo-aging

Choosing a quality collagen

DCIM:  How do you know the collagen you are getting is good?

Cyto-matrix:  Here are some guiding principles:
  • First, make sure the you’re dealing with a reputable company who manufactures their collagen in a Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) manufacturing facility
  • Second, make sure the company does the necessary quality control processes for raw materials and finished product and states this on the label.
  • Third, make sure the raw material comes from a clean and safe source.
  • Fourth, make sure the collagen contains bio-active collagen peptides for bioavailability and bioactivity. Collagens without these targeted bio-active peptides are less effective.

DCIM: What do you mean by ‘Bio-Active Compounds’?

Cyto-matrix:  Bioactive compounds refer to the actual collagen peptides that get absorbed through the gut wall, transported in the blood, and taken up by the target connective tissue cells.  Different types of collagen have different molecular weights that enable effective uptake by the target tissue.

  • Dermal Collagen Peptides: 2 kDa (2 kilodaltons or 2,000 Daltons)
  • Joint Collagen Peptides: 3 kDA
  • Bone Collagen Peptides: 5 kDA

Note: Approximately 10% of the above active peptides in a collagen dose of each product gets taken up at the target cell.

DCIM: What makes Cyto-matrix Collagen products stand apart?

Cyto-matrix:

1. Quality Control

Cyto-Matrix bio-active collagen peptide powders and liquids are fabulous because they adhere to strict quality processes, contain known levels of the bio-active collagen peptides, and deliver the research-proven doses needed to create noticeable results.
All Cyto-Matrix products, not just our bio-active collagen peptides, are manufactured in a cGMP facility. We assay all raw materials used BEFORE manufacturing and AFTER manufacturing.  We do this quality-intensive analytical work on EVERY batch of EVERY product in our brand.

2.  Clean source material

With respect to the source of our raw material, at Cyto-matrix, we use only a blend of Type I and Type III bovine collagen sourced from ethically raised, grass-fed cows.  All Cyto-Matrix collagen products are certified Kosher and Halal.

3. Hypo-allergenicity

All Cyto-matrix collagen products are free from gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and other major allergens.

4. Potency

All Cyto-Matrix collagen products contain the proper sequence of amino acids within the peptide to protect the peptide from the degrading action of digestive enzymes. This stability allows for the absorption and transport of the collagen peptides to cells at the target tissues.  Additionally, the proper peptide size stimulates each different connective tissue cell type.

Types of Collagen

DCIM: Why does Cyto-matrix carry 4 different types of collagen?

Cyto-matrix: We have four different types of collagen because each type of connective tissue responds best to a different size and sequence of collagen amino acid peptides (Like a lock and key…..keys will only open one specific lock).  Therefore, we standardize each type of collagen for the targeted bio-active peptide proven in research to stimulate that specific tissue.

Dermal Collagen: triggers the fibroblasts in skin to make more collagen

Joint Collagen: triggers the chondrocytes in cartilage to make more collagen
Bone Collagen: which triggers osteoblasts in bone to make more collagen
Complete Collagen: which contains all the collagen bio-active peptides to trigger collagen production in skin, cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons and muscles

Collagen and Gut Healing

DCIM: Can collagen be used for gut healing? Is there any research supporting this?

Cyto-matrix: It is theorized that dermal collagen peptides may be used to heal “leaky gut” because the dermal collagen peptides may increase the integrity of the tight junctions between the intestinal cells.  Since gut tissue is technically an epithelial tissue, and since dermal collagen targets epithelial tissue, it would work to enhance tight junction integrity.  At this point, however, there is no published data of human clinical trials to support this.
Interestingly, many compounds that improve skin health also improve gut health – for example, zinc and probiotics.
Still have questions about collagen and whether it is right for you?  Call the clinic and speak to one of our Naturopathic Doctors!  They will provide you with the information you need to make the best possible decision for your health.

REFERENCES:

Konig, D. et al. 2018.  Nutrients, 10(97).  Specific Collagen Peptides Improve Bone Mineral Density and Bone Markers in Postmenopausal Women—A Randomized Controlled Study

Proksch, E. et al. 2014.  Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 27: 113-19. Oral Intake of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides Reduces Skin Wrinkles and Increases Dermal Matrix Synthesis.

Proksch, E. et al.  2014.  Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 27: 47-55.  Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Has Beneficial Effects on Human Skin Physiology: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Schunck, M. et al. 2015. Journal of Medicinal Food, 18(12): 1340–8.  Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology.

Zdzieblik, D. et al. 2017.  Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 42: 588-95.