Daily collagen supplementation improved skin elasticity, hydration, and dermal collagen density in middle-aged men." - Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2014)
Collagen has earned itself the reputation of being the potion to consume for thicker hair, stronger nails and joints, and radiant skin. These benefits may sound more appealing to women than to men. However, collagen is just as beneficial for men’s health as it is for women’s.
Collagen for men may help in bulking up as well as in hair growth. As the most abundant protein in the body, collagen is useful for maintaining strong muscles, healthy joints, and supple, hydrated skin. It may help improve workout recovery, enhance muscle strength, and even tackle the signs of ageing by keeping skin firm and provide support for ligaments, cartilage and tissues.
Consuming collagen regularly may help to replenish the depleting reserves of this protein in your body. Whether you're looking to build strength, improve skin elasticity, or maintain healthy hair, collagen is a supplement that may help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
Discover some of the benefits of consuming collagen for men. Let us get started.
What Is Collagen?
Found in tendons, ligaments, bones, skin, cartilage, nails, and muscles, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. Accounting for 30% of the body’s total protein, collagen acts as the mortar that holds together cells and provides structural support to the body.
Our bodies make collagen by using smaller amino acids like proline, hydroxyproline, and glycine, as well as vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C, zinc, manganese, and copper. Collagen production naturally slows down as we age, reducing by 1-2% every year. Collagen production is also impacted by sun damage, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Collagen production in our bodies begins to decrease in our twenties. Hence, starting a supplementation routine during this time can prove beneficial for later on in life. Collagen supplements, which are growing in popularity, are made up of shorter chains of amino acids called peptides (hydrolysed collagen peptides). These are easily digested by our bodies.
The Different Types of Collagen Available For Consumption
There are mainly 28 types of collagen in the body, yet 3 of them are considered the most important forms and play a significant role in our bodies.
- Type 1 collagen gives strength and structure to bones, skin, ligaments, and tendons.
- Type 2 collagen is found in the cartilage that supports the joints.
- Type 3 collagen is found in internal organs, muscles, and the lining of organs.
Most of the collagen products that you will find in the market contain these 3 variants.
Collagen also can be differentiated based on its source and here, too, there are 3 types.
- Bovine collagen is sourced from the skins or bones of cattle (cows)
- Marine collagen is made from the skin, scales and bones of fish
- Vegan collagen is made from unique formulations from plant based sources including yeast and algae. Vegan Collagen supplements also include the essential amino acids which help in the production of collagen.
When you consume collagen naturally, the body doesn’t use it up. The collagen is broken down into smaller nutrients which are later used to build up collagen again in the cells.
What Are Some of The Benefits of Collagen for Men's Health?
If you think collagen for men is just for bulking up, you are wrong! Collagen is beneficial to men’s health in the following ways.
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May repair and improve skin
Collagen plays a key role in strengthening skin tissues and maintaining elasticity. It also helps to improve skin hydration. Collagen combined with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C helps to revive and restore the skin structure. Research suggests that collagen may play a critical role in reducing the signs of ageing like wrinkles, fine lines and skin pigmentation.
Collagen supplements may help to stimulate collagen production in the body as well as the production of other compounds like elastin and fibrillin, which are key components of the skin. More research needs to be done to provide substantial evidence of the benefits of collagen for the skin.
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May improve hair growth
Collagen nourishes the dermis layer of the skin where the roots of hair are found which may reduce hair breakage. Research exists that shows that consuming collagen may help to improve hair growth. Consuming collagen over time may help to increase the quantity of hair, make hair roots and follicles stronger and improve overall thickness of the hair.
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May help build muscle and reduce body fat
Collagen is essentially a protein, and consuming protein while you train your body can have many benefits. It helps to build muscle which burns more calories at rest, restores muscle soreness, improves elasticity of tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues in the body. All these help the body endure more stress in the gym and other physical activities like running and swimming.
There exist a few studies that show that collagen consumption may help in building muscle mass and decreasing fat. One research showed that young men who did resistance training while consuming collagen supplements showed a greater improvement in fat-free mass after 12 weeks.
Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training has been shown to improve muscle mass and strength in elderly men.- Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (2015)
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May help muscles recover faster from muscle soreness
Consuming collagen for muscle recovery and reducing muscle soreness may be beneficial for those who spend their time in the gym. There is one British study that seems to support the idea that oral collagen supplementation may help relieve muscle tiredness and muscle soreness after strenuous physical exercise.
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May relieve joint pain
Studies show that collagen supplementation may have a role to play in relieving joint pain. As a person ages they begin to lose collagen from their bodies, putting them at risk for joint disorders like osteoarthritis. Certain studies show that collagen consumption may improve joint stiffness and reduce overall joint pain. More evidence is required to establish collagen as a recommended treatment for osteoarthritis. Consuming collagen for joint support may help to improve symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Oral collagen supplements reduced joint pain and improved physical function in men with knee osteoarthritis. - International Journal of Medical Sciences (2018)
Things You Need To Know About Collagen
Ready to experience the collagen benefits for men's health? Here are some things you need to keep in mind about collagen before consuming it.
- Always consume collagen from reputable vendors who get their products tested by third-party organisations and can evidence the sourcing and supply chains. The collagen you end up buying may contain heavy metals like lead or arsenic which are detrimental to health. Therefore, always ask for heavy metal testing reports from your collagen supplier and ensure these meet the EFSA standards.
- Also, go through the entire ingredient list of each product to check if there are any added components like fillers, binders or other synthetic chemicals. The best collagen supplements use natural ingredients with no added chemicals, synthetic fillers and binders.
- Consume around 10 to 15 grams of collagen peptides in a day. This should be equal to around 2 scoops a day. Mix it in your tea, coffee, or soup and enjoy.
Wrapping Up
Incorporating collagen into the daily routine can provide men with numerous health benefits, from enhancing muscle mass and improving workout recovery to supporting joint health and reducing hair loss. Collagen helps men lead a pain free life whilst carrying on with sporting activities including gym, swimming, cycling, running, tennis and golf.
Nutrabytes' premium food supplements are crafted to meet globally recognised quality standards like GMP, GFSI, and HACCP. We ensure that we only use the highest quality ingredients which are sourced from sustainable sources and only use ingredients which have undergone rigorous laboratory testing for purity and potency. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in our Trustpilot rating, where customers consistently express their satisfaction. Reach out to us today or visit our website at Nutrabytes to learn more and explore our full range of supplements.
References
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a41902312/collagen-for-men/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits#benefits
https://www.webmd.com/diet/collagen-health-benefits
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262881#uses
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/considering-collagen-drinks-and-supplements-202304122911
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-collagen-market
