Healthy ageing

Is marine collagen the secret to healthy ageing?

Sourced straight from the sea, marine collagen is the latest anti-ageing ingredient that’s good for you and for the planet

While collagen is still the number one anti-ageing ingredient in most skincare and supplements, it seems not all sources of collagen are equal and the hype around marine collagen makes it a must-try product for anyone looking to defy their age.

Collagen supplementation is linked to a long list of health and wellbeing benefits, including strengthening skin, hair, nails, bones, joints and ligaments, whilst also reducing the signs of ageing and aiding muscle repair and immune function.

While most collagen supplements are made from bovine (cow) sources, those that contain marine collagen peptides, like Birch & Wilde’s high-strength Marine Collagen tablets, are made entirely from oceanic sources, such as fish scales, skin and bones.

Intrigued? Let’s dive in and take a look at some of the possible benefits of supplementing with marine collagen.

Collagen and ageing

Did you know collagen is the most abundant supportive protein found in the body? These proteins are found in our body’s connective tissues and make up a large proportion of our bone, tendons, ligaments, skin, muscles, blood vessels and even our teeth.

From around age 30 onwards, we begin to lose approximately one percent of our endogenous collagen per year and, with our collagen production declining, this is when we may start to see and feel changes in our skin, joints and muscles, such as skin that feels less plump and hydrated, more wrinkles, and stiff, painful joints and weaker muscles.

Research suggests the consumption of collagen in food or supplements can improve collagen production within the body, thereby slowing and reducing these age-related changes.

Marine organisms are considered very promising sources of collagen because they possess a high collagen content, do not harbor transmissible disease and could significantly reduce environmental impact. Great for your health and for the planet – win, win!

Birch & Wilde’s range of marine collagen supplements are made using only sustainably sourced, high-quality ingredients and feature hydrolysed collagen peptides for their superior bioavailability.

Skin health

Collagen, along with elastin and fat cells, gives skin its volume, strength and elasticity. As we age and collagen production declines, this is visible on our faces and bodies even when avoiding other collagen-destroying habits (such as UV exposure, smoking and a poor diet).

Hydrolysed collagen, which is collagen that’s been broken down into more easily dissolvable amino acids, is thought to be especially beneficial for skin health as once it is ingested, serum levels of specific proteins increase (dipeptides and tripeptides), stimulating fibroblasts to produce hyaluronic acid, a compound known to boost hydration and skin plumpness.

Studies have shown collagen supplementation for eight to 12 weeks improves skin elasticity, firmness, hydration and reduces wrinkles.

Type I collagen comprises around 80 percent of the collagen in the dermis of the skin and studies on ageing skin showing a predominant loss of collagen. As marine collagen is a great source of type I collagen specifically, it’s the perfect option to supplement for skin benefits.

Joint health

Joint pain is a common complaint as we age, due to natural wear and tear, immune dysfunction or injuries, causing the lubricating fluid in the joint capsule to reduce and cartilage wearing down. But, don’t despair – there is hope that collagen may support joint resilience and strength.

Research suggests that both types I and II collagen can support a reduction of pain, improve physical function and quality of life with joint conditions including osteoarthritis, in one case surpassing results from glucosamine and chondroitin alone as an osteoarthritis treatment.

As we have seen with skin benefits, hydrolysed collagen can also increase hyaluronic acid production, improving joint lubrication and potentially decreasing pain.

Bone health

Our bones are often forgotten about until older age when fracture risk increases, or you receive a diagnosis of osteoporosis. However, it is never too early to start supporting your skeleton – starting with collagen!

Our bones are comprised of a mineral matrix of calcium and phosphorous, plus type I collagen. With age, our bone density, and therefore bone strength, decreases, particularly in the five years post-menopause when up to 20 percent of our bone can be lost.

One clinical study has shown that following supplementation of collagen, blood markers of bone growth increase, with a subsequent increase in bone density at the lower spine and hip. Another study concluded that collagen plus calcium and vitamin D is more effective at supporting bone density than the nutrients alone.

Therefore, by supplementing this essential protein, you effectively provide your body with some essential building blocks which may help to slow the signs of ageing.