A Closer Look Collagen Types and Benefits

This begs the question: If collagen is so prevalent throughout the human body, why is taking supplements still so important? As time passes and we age, our bodies begin to produce less collagen, and the fibers break down or regenerate. The aftermath results in wrinkles, fine lines and other consequences. This “deflation” effect is normal and considered a natural part of the aging process. By age 40, for example, our bodies produce 25% less collagen than they did in earlier years. This decreases even more at age 60, down by 50%. As the body ages and collagen production slows down, supply simply can’t meet demand.

While it’s possible to obtain extra collagen from a diet of gelatinous meat and skin from poultry, this can be unappealing and difficult to achieve. That’s where supplements of different types of collagen come in handy. But how do collagen types differentiate, and which type is right for your business? Read on to find out more as we take a closer look.

What are the different types of collagen?

Collagen has many benefits for our health and overall wellbeing. As our bodies begin to produce less, we typically face undesired consequences like aching joints and wrinkled skin. As a result, there are many benefits to taking collagen supplements. But before determining what collagen is right for your consumer, it’s important to understand the common types of collagen and what they do. 

Type I Collagen

Of all the collagen found in our bodies, Type I is the most abundant. It’s found in the eyes, skin, tendons, bones and teeth. 

Type II Collagen

This is found in the protein muscles in your cartilage, which is the connective tissue protecting your bones at the joints. Areas like the spinal disks and the eyes have great amounts of Type II Collagen. As your cartilage deteriorates over time, a lot of joint pain can occur. Type II Collagen helps combat that pain and maintain overall joint health. 

Type III Collagen

The second most abundant type of collagen in your body, Type III is located in large quantities within the intestines, muscles, blood vessels and the female uterus.

Type V Collagen

This collagen type supports the bone matrix, corneal stroma and the interstitial matrix of muscles, liver, lungs and a woman’s placenta. It’s typically sourced from the membranes of eggshells and is less abundant than types I, II and III. 

Type X Collagen

This is the type of collagen your body depends on for bone formation. For example, when bones and cartilage are healing after an injury, Type X collagen is essential for repairing and restoring. 

COMBINING DIFFERENT COLLAGEN TYPES

The types of collagen certainly work well on their own to benefit our overall health. However, combining certain collagen types can also work to your body’s advantage. Multi collagen products are seeing an increase in popularity and can offer wonderful benefits to the body. 

Over 90% of the collagen in our bodies is composed of collagen Types I and III . This collagen is produced by cells in connective tissues (fibroblasts) and cells that make bones (osteoblasts). The proteins in these types of collagen consist of 19 amino acids which are essential to the functions and maintenance of skin, muscles and bones.

Some of their functions include:

What type of collagen is best?

Before you can answer this question, it’s important to assess what it is you’re seeking to improve. Ask yourself:

Your answers to these questions can help guide you in choosing the right supplement. From there, you’re ready to take a closer look at collagen types and examine your options. 

Type I Collagen & Type III Collagen Benefits

Type I Collagen & Type III Collagen frequently appear together in the collagen supplement industry because they are so similar and are great when combined.

In particular, the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries use these collagen types in some of their manufacturing processes. Your customers may benefit from these collagen supplements if you suffer from:

Type II Collagen Benefits

If you have customers in need of joint and cartilage support, they may benefit from supplements of Type II Collagen. It makes up 50 to 60% of the protein in the body’s cartilage and includes beneficial ingredients like Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Hyaluronic Acid. 

The medical industry often uses Type II Collagen to help with a variety of ailments like: 

Type V Collagen Benefits

You may be interested in supplements of this type of collagen if you have female customers who are pregnant or looking to get pregnant. Type V Collagen is necessary to create the cells of a pregnant woman’s placenta. This is the organ that attaches to the lining of the womb and gives the baby the elements it needs to survive like:

Additionally, if you work in the hair care industry, you may also wish to use this type of collagen. It’s been known to assist hair growth and help with overall cell surfaces. 

Type X Collagen Benefits

If you have clients who are on the mend and have suffered an injury, Type X Collagen supplements may be right for your business. It acts as a reliable marker for bone formation in articular cartilage and is something to possibly consider for customers facing broken: