What is Collagen?
7.6.2019
Collagen is a hard, insoluble and fibrous protein that makes up one-third of the protein in the human body.
In the majority of collagens, the molecules are packed together to form very similar long thin fibrils. There are numerous different types of collagen (16 in total), but 80-90 % of collagen in the body belong to types I, II, III.
Collagen is most commonly found in the skin, bones and connective tissue within the body, providing structural support, strength and a degree of elasticity (in combination with elastin).
How can we increase Collagen production?
Collagen, like all proteins, is made up of amino acids. Of these amino acids, nine are considered essential, i.e. they cannot be synthesised by the body and must be acquired.
Nutrients support Collagen formation include:
-Proline: found in egg whites, meat, cheese, soy and cabbage.
-Anthocyanidins: found in oranges, strawberries, peppers and broccoli.
-Copper: can be found in shellfish, nuts, red meat and some drinking water.
-Vitamin A: found in animal-derived foods and plant foods as beta-carotene.
There are a number of factors that can deplete the levels of collagen found within the body. Avoiding the following could keep the skin healthy for longer:
-High sugar consumption: a diet high in sugar increases the rate of glycation, a process whereby sugar in the blood attaches to proteins to form the new molecules called Advanced Glycation End Products(AGEs). AGEs damage adjacent proteins and can make collagen dry, brittle and weak.
-Smoking: many of the chemicals present in tobacco smoke damage both collagen and elastin in the skin. Nicotine also narrows the blood vessels in the outer layers, which reduces the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the skin, compromising healthy skin.
-Sunlight: Ultraviolet rays in sunlight cause collagen to break at an increased rate, damaging collagen fibres and inducing the accumulation of abnormal elastin. Abnormal elastin leads to the production of an enzyme that can also break down collagen. This process can lead to the formation of solar scars.
-Autoimmune disorders: Some autoimmune disorders cause antibodies to target collagen. Mutations to the genes responsible for the coding of collagen alpha-chains can affect the extracellular matrix, leading to a decrease in the amount of collagen secreted, or to the secretion of dysfunctional mutant collagen.
Doctor-assistant Saida Rasulova