How does collagen drink supplement support healthy skin, hair, nails?
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in our bodies. It is also present in large amounts in our bones, muscles, and ligaments. It’s considered the scaffolding that holds the body together. In the skin specifically, collagen helps form a network of fibers, so new skin cells can grow. With the help of elastin, this dynamic team keeps the skin plump and youthful. But how does adding collagen to your diet help support your skin, hair and nails?
As of right now, there are two main types on the market: marine collagen, generally from fish, and animal collagen, which can come from cows and pigs, for example. The collagen is found in the bone and tissues of these animals. Sipnutri uses marine collagen sourced from France and made in Taiwan.
“As we age, not only does our production of collagen decrease but the quality of our collagen worsens,” Zubritsky says in an interview with BYRDIE in 2020. This contributes to sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles. The theory behind drinkable or ingestible collagen supplements is that it can improve and boost our body’s collagen and collagen production, thus resulting in improved skin quality, anti-aging benefits, and other medical benefits like joint and muscle improvements. Sipnutri adds other skin supporting ingredients on top of the collagen such as pomegranate extract, grape seed extract, vitamin C and horsetail extract.
Zubritsky explains that collagen supplements are in a class called nutraceuticals, which are foods full of nutrients with claims to improve health. The most popular form is hydrolyzed collagen because it has a lower molecular weight and higher water-solubility, which means it can be dissolved in drinks and food more readily. Sipnutri comes in the form of a drink. The powder form can be added to coffee or a smoothie, as well as the liquid form.
Often known as "marine sourced" collagen, fish collagen is considered superior because of its purity and high bioavailability. Because Marine Collagen is extracted from fish, it is free from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) (also known as “Mad Cow Disease”), Hoof-and-Mouth disease and/or Bird Viruses. Marine Collagen also does not contain high calcium risk, as there is a very little trace amount of calcium in the scales and skin of fish vs. in animal bones. “However, for some people who are allergic to seafood, marine fish extracted collagen can create some allergic reactions, depending on the purity of the marine collagen peptides,” taken from WebMD written in 2013.
There has been intense debate surrounding the efficacy of collagen drinks, but multiple scientific studies have proven that drinking collagen can indeed benefit the skin and help with fine lines and wrinkles. According to a paper published in the Archives of
Nutrients in 2019, ingesting collagen may help with overall collagen formation in the body. A year later, Tokyo University published research suggesting that drinking collagen could reverse the effects of sun-related skin aging.
Another study by a research institute in Japan in 2006 suggested that ingesting collagen peptide increases fibroblast density and enhances the formation of collagen in the dermis. Fibroblasts are specialized cells in the dermis layer that synthesize collagen and elastin. Researchers at Katsuragi Hospital in Japan also documented improvements in the skin of subjects who took an oral collagen supplement.
When your body produces enough collagen, you’ll notice that your skin has a glow and feels soft. However, as we age, our collagen synthesis declines, and we begin to see the signs of aging appear on our skin. Wrinkles, skin folds and a loss of elasticity are common symptoms of waning levels of collagen in the body. This really makes collagen sound like a magic anti-aging word! As a supplement it can improve your hair, skin, and nails if taken daily. Results vary depending on the individual.
