Why are amino acids so important when choosing collagen?

Collagen is an essential protein that provides structural support for skin, tendons, ligaments, bones, cartilage, blood vessels, and organs. It also helps maintain the strength of connective tissues throughout the body.

 

The secret superpower of collagen: Amino Acids

The key component to look for in any great collagen supplement is the amino acid profile. This should be clearly evident on the product packaging. Regardless of collagen type, it is the amino acid profile that is of the most important benefit when choosing to purchase and when using collagen supplements.

Amino acids are compounds that are critical to bodily processes such as building proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters. They’re naturally found in protein-rich food, with many opting to take them as a supplement in order to improve their mood, boost their performance, assist connective tissue and muscle recovery, and to strengthen their body.

Amino acids are the building blocks for protein synthesis in the body. There are over 700 known amino acids, in the human body there are 20 amino acids that are considered vital for health and wellness. Nine of these amino acids are ‘essential’ to the human body and cannot be made by the human body thus must come from food. Five others are ‘conditionally essential’, meaning they under ideal healthy circumstances the body can make these amino acids however lifestyle, metabolism errors and food nutrition can all impact on availability.

 

Crucial amino acids

The most crucial types of amino acids found in collagen are proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. The number of, and the typical ratio of, these amino acids doesn’t vary significantly enough to warrant a claim that one form of pure, unblended collagen hydrolysate will be more beneficial to skin, bones, or joints than any other form. This is also true of the type of enzyme used to break down the large protein chains found in collagen into the smaller peptides - once it’s been consumed by an individual, collagen hydrolysate is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream as 18 different pure amino acids.

Once Collagen Hydrolysate has been consumed by an individual it will very quickly be absorbed into the bloodstream as 18 pure amino acids. There is absolutely no difference in the chemical structures of identical amino acids; proline is proline whether it comes from bovine, marine, or chicken collagen, and to make a claim that there is a difference is misleading.

To infer a pure collagen hydrolysate can be specifically made that targets specific pain points such as cartilage formation or skin firmness is questionable. To imply that using alternate enzymes to break down the collagen fibres into peptides will not alter the fact that the collagen forming cells of the body simply require large amounts of the amino acid found naturally in Collagen Hydrolysate to synthesise collagen.

 

Benefits Of Collagen Amino Acid Supplementation

The amino acids found naturally in collagen hydrolysate are an excellent supplement for anyone who wants to support lean muscle mass, improve their gut health and to nourish skin, hair and nails. Collagen supplements contain high levels of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which help support healthy joints and connective tissues. In addition, collagen amino acids also contain arginine, lysine, and cysteine, which promote growth hormone production. This helps improve metabolism and is also satiating.

 

Australia’s cleanest collagen supplement

Nutraviva’s Collagen Hydrolysate contains 100% all-natural grass-fed and finished collagen peptides, making for a clean, bioactive hydrolysed collagen powder that has no binders, fillers or additives. Nutraviva’s wide range of certification options (including kosher and halal certified collagen hydrolysate and HASTA batch-tested product for athletes) means there’s something for everyone who’s looking to reap collagen’s health benefits.