Does it make sense to take collagen?

The most important things in brief

• When we ingest collagen, we expect a multitude of improvements for our body.
• But is that really the case? Does taking it improve the complexion?
• And what does collagen as a food additive do when it comes to joints, ligaments, bones, muscles, teeth and tendons?
• One good thing is that collagen supplementation can be taken in a number of ways.

Nutritional supplements are viewed critically by many people. They can be beneficial to increased health and thus a better life. But what about collagen? Does it make sense to take these supplements? And what are the effects of taking collagen?

Collagen in all imaginable forms

The world of dietary supplements today is almost unmanageably large and diverse. They are produced as powders, serums, tablets, drinking ampoules, capsules, drinks or drops. While tablets and capsules always have to be taken separately, the other forms offer the advantage that you can not only prepare drinks with them, but even refine food in order to be able to take your dose of collagen.

So you can use it to make sauces, dressings, bowls, desserts or porridge. In terms of quantity, it is currently recommended not to consume more than two grams of collagen per day.

The complexion can improve quickly

With all the benefits that collagen products can have, it has to be said that the emphasis is on the word "can". There is not always an effect. But there are some people who find that their skin has improved significantly after just the first 14 days of taking collagen. There are studies that have shown that collagen levels in the body actually increase when the appropriate supplements are taken.

In this respect, it can make sense to take collagen. However, the effect of skin creams with collagen, which advertise that the skin is smoothed and looks more youthful again, is controversial. According to experts, this should not be the case because the collagen contained in creams does not get to where it is needed. Instead, they attribute the effect of more beautiful skin – which definitely exists – to the moisture contained in the creams.

What does ingested collagen do to the joints?

The body's own collagen is known to stabilize joints, but also muscles, tendons and ligaments. And it has been proven that externally supplied collagen arrives in the joints and bones. However, our organism splits this collagen into its components when ingested, it is broken down into the three amino acids hydroxyproline, lysine and glycine. It is assumed that the body is then able to produce collagen again from these ingredients, but this has not yet been directly proven.

When it comes to dietary supplements, the question of whether they can lead to side effects must of course also be addressed. However, this can almost be ruled out for collagen, since it is a natural protein or structural protein. Nevertheless, you should be careful with a high dosage - especially if this takes place over a longer period of time - as there are currently no relevant scientific studies that rule out side effects with certainty.