Supplements for Anti-aging

Protect your skin and joints with these 2 key supplements

Dwayne N. Jackson, PhD

Collagen is a structural protein that binds our tissues together by forming their extracellular matrix. Simply put, collagen acts as the glue that holds our body parts together. As such, the many forms of collagen provide the structural basis for skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bone, the digestive tract, heart, blood vessels, and spinal discs. Thus, it should be no surprise that collagen (in all its forms) is an important and abundant protein the body.

Collagen: 3 abundant forms of collagen in the body

COLLAGEN TYPE	WHERE IT IS FOUND
Type I	Skin, tendons, blood vessels, ligaments, organs, bones, skeletal muscle
Type II	Cartilage
Type III (forms gelatin when boiled)	Bone, nails, dentin, tendons, cartilage, bone marrow, skeletal muscle

Although collagen is naturally produced by the body, the science tells us that collagen supplements can provide significant health and aesthetic benefits.

Like most things, collagen production slows as we age. Combine this with daily exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and environmental pollution and you may find that collagen production fails to meet the body’s demands. It’s this process that makes us susceptible to premature aging, joint problems, and cellulite. In this article I have highlighted the science behind collagen supplements, how they can slow premature aging and help you look great and feel amazing!

Collagen Supplementation

Collagen supplements come in several different forms, from specifically isolated collagen peptides to full spectrum collagen isolates. Since there are several types of collagen, which play different roles in the body, the R&D team at ATP Lab has formulated 2 key products to cover the entire spectrum of healthy collagen supplementation.

• Collagenik is formulated with hydrolyzed beef collagen, patented UCII collagen, and other cofactors which are proven to support the body’s natural collagen production. The hydrolyzed beef collagen consists of isolated bioactive collagen peptides providing all 3 types of collagen. Patented UCII is a premium collagen source that is produced under low heat and without enzymes. Advanced processing provides the purest and most bioactive Type II collagen available, which is why research shows that using patented UCII collagen works better for joint pain than glucosamine and chondroitin.

• Supreme Beef Protein is a premium grade protein source that is formulated  from beef bone broth and hydrolyzed beef collagen peptides from grass-fed cows. The result is a full spectrum protein source that contains an abundance of amino acids that support Type I, II, and III collagen regeneration, reduce inflammation, and promote muscle growth and gut health.

COLLAGEN FOR SKIN HEALTH

Aged Skin

In humans, collagen (type I) makes up about ¾ of the dry mass of skin. Scanning your skin will quickly reveal that covered up areas, which have aged with minimal environmental influences, are generally silky, smooth, and well preserved. Now, contrast this with skin of the face, neck, and hands--- body parts that are chronically exposed to the sun and other sources of oxidative stress. Although the degree of skin damage varies from person to person, we can all agree that damaged skin has less tone, shows significant ‘wear and tear’, and more wrinkles. This is mainly due to a breakdown of collagen and elastin in our skin.

In a recent study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, researchers from Germany and Brazil found that women who ingested 2.5 g of bioactive collagen peptides daily for 8 weeks had an 18% reduction in eye wrinkle volume (crow’s feet) compared to baseline. In contrast, those in the placebo group had a 14.5% increase in wrinkle volume over the same period. This translates to a more than 32% overall reduction in the appearance of crow’s feet in those who received the collagen supplement versus placebo! Furthermore, the scientists noted that the positive effects of collagen supplementation prevailed for at least 4 weeks after stopping the supplements. Beyond measurable changes in skin wrinkles, the authors further reported that those who received the collagen supplement had a 1.65-fold increase in skin collagen content and 1.2-fold increase in skin elastin content versus placebo.

Cellulite

If you are afflicted with cellulite, you are not alone! In fact, cellulite affects 85% of women over the age of 20---appearing mainly on the thighs, butt, and abdomen. Cellulite rears its head for several reasons including genetics, age, diet, sedentary lifestyle, and pregnancy. Although cellulite is a complex problem, one major contributor is an altered extracellular matrix in the skin.

In a double blind and placebo controlled clinical trial published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, 105 women aged 24-50 years with moderate cellulite received a daily dosage of hydrolyzed collagen or a placebo for 6 months. At the end of the study it was found that collagen supplementation promoted significant decreases in the degree of cellulite and skin waviness on thighs in normal-weight and overweight women. The authors concluded that regular ingestion of bioactive collagen peptides, over a period of 6 months, leads to a clear improvement of the skin appearance in women suffering from moderate cellulite.

PROTECT YOUR SKIN WITH COLLAGEN: If you are looking to increase the overall appearance of the skin, and/or reduce the appearance of cellulite, then you should consider taking a collagen supplement derived from Type I and Type III collagen. I suggest mixing one scoop of Supreme Beef Protein in 250-400 ml of water (or milk type of your choice) and drink it sometime between breakfast and lunch.

COLLAGEN FOR JOINT HEALTH

Collagen (Type II) is most abundant in the cartilage that lines our joints. This smooth cartilage type acts as a bearing surface for our joints, keeping them working smoothly and painlessly. Unfortunately, the normal wear and tear that comes with intense training and age can lead to premature breakdown of joint cartilage, promoting joint inflammation, bone loss, joint pain, immobility, and time lost from activity and training. In terms of joint pain, a recent clinical trial, published in The Eurasian Journal of Medicine, illustrated that when knee osteoarthritis patients took a native Type II collagen supplement with their standard daily dose of acetaminophen, there were significant improvements in joint pain, joint function, and quality of life that were far superior to taking acetaminophen on its own.

Although exercise promotes collagen synthesis, which (in a perfect world) provides ongoing repair to our joints, heavy training schedules, genetic predispositions, past injuries, and age make it difficult for our bodies to match collagen supply with demand. Recently, it was reported that taking a preworkout collagen supplement (with vitamin C) increases collagen synthesis better than exercise itself. In fact, subjects who took the vitamin-C enriched collagen supplement showed a 200% increase in collagen synthesis over placebo. Collagenik, from ATP LAB is formulated with the highest purity UCII collagen peptides, supported by co-factors like vitamin C to provide the best joint protection money can buy!

FEEL GREAT WITH COLLAGEN: To keep your joints running smooth and painlessly, we suggest using ATP Lab’s Collagenik every day. For best results, take 2 capsules, 3x per day with meals.

References:

Inoue N, Sugihara F, Wang X. Ingestion of bioactive collagen hydrolysates enhance facial skin moisture and elasticity and reduce facial ageing signs in a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study. J Sci Food Agric. 2016 Sep;96(12):4077-81.

Proksch E, Schunck M, Zague V, Segger D, Degwert J, Oesser S. Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(3):113-9.

Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S, Proksch E. Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology. J Med Food. 2015 Dec;18(12):1340-8.

Bakilan F, Armagan O, Ozgen M, Tascioglu F, Bolluk O, Alatas O. Effects of Native Type II Collagen Treatment on Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Eurasian J Med. 2016 Jun;48(2):95-101.

Figueres Juher T, Basés Pérez E. [An overview of the beneficial effects of hydrolysed collagen intake on joint and bone health and on skin ageing]. Nutr Hosp. 2015 Jul 18;32 Suppl 1:62-6.