Among the most popular skin-care products, collagen has made its way into nutritional supplements, and the buzz about what this protein does for your health isn’t going away anytime soon. The protein is working its way into supplement pills and various foods as studies into the advantages of edible collagen expand. However, as with other sources of proteins, there is controversy about the optimum collagen sources. As the name says, marine collagen is generated solely from sea-based materials such as fish skin, scales, and bones. And it’s becoming more popular: the market for marine collagen powder was worth over $603 million in 2018 and is predicted to reach over $1 billion by 2026.
What’s collagen, and what does it do for you when you consume it?
Collagen is a protein found in muscles, skin, ligaments, tendons, bones, and blood vessels. The human body contains 28 different kinds of collagen. People naturally lose collagen due to ageing and other circumstances, so the concept that they could replenish it with collagen from outside sources seems feasible. Collagen is a component of the skin’s supporting structures; therefore, a lack of it can cause sagging and wrinkles.
What are marine collagen’s health benefits?
While collagen therapies began in skin health, the protein is too big to permeate the skin and isn’t well suited for creams. That’s why some formulas utilise collagen peptides or partially broken-down hydrolysed collagen. This is comparable to what occurs when collagen is consumed. Collagen is broken down into smaller molecules, which circulate in the bloodstream, and some scientists believe that these circulating collagen by-products may signal the skin to increase collagen production. It’s still unknown whether or not this is correct or how successful it is.
Collagen peptides neutralise free radicals in skin cells, according to a study released in March 2020, preventing inflammation (both of which are linked to chronic diseases and ageing). Small research in March 2021 found that 50 women aged 45 to 60 who took 10 grammes of a marine collagen powder pill for 12 weeks showed a 35 per cent reduction in wrinkles compared to a placebo powder group. Skin elasticity, moisture, and firmness all improved as well.
According to a study published in September 2018, 120 people who took supplements hydrolysed fish collagen, antioxidants, vitamins and compounds like glucosamine had a 40% increase in skin elasticity compared to a placebo and a self-reported 43 per cent drop in joint pain and 39 per cent higher joint mobility. It’s difficult to say whether fish collagen was the only cause of these findings. Human trials examining the potential advantages of marine collagen on arthritis or joint health are currently lacking.
Are there any negative effects from using marine collagen?
If you have a seafood allergy, you should avoid using marine collagen. Remember that this is a protein supplement because collagen is a protein. Depending on the brand, two scoops of marine collagen powder may provide 11 g of protein. If you have severe kidney illness and your doctor has advised you to limit protein, you’ll need to track the protein you’re getting from marine collagen capsules or powders.
Consider using marine collagen in your diet to increase your collagen intake. Supplements can provide a more potent dose. They come in powder form for mixing into liquids like smoothies or coffee and pill form. Choose hydrolysed peptides, which have already been broken down and can be quickly absorbed by the body. Also, look at the number of collagen peptides in a capsule versus a powder serving, as they may differ.