Collagen: a natural ally for managing joint problems

Joint problems can become a source of considerable pain and discomfort for many people. Whether it's arthritis, age-related pain or injury, joint health is crucial to an active life and pain-free mobility. The good news is that collagen can help you with your joint pain.

In fact, collagen, as an essential protein, can play a vital role in managing joint problems, tendonitis, capsulitis, etc. That's what we're going to look at in this article. 

What is collagen?

Collagen is a structural protein abundant in the human body. It is an essential component of skin, hair, nails, bones, tendons and, of course, joints. Collagen acts as a kind of “cement” that holds the different parts of our joints together. As we age, collagen production declines, which can contribute to joint problems such as osteoarthritis, as well as bone problems such as osteoporosis.

Collagen and joints: how does ‘t work?

Collagen's role in maintaining joint health is multi-faceted:

1. Improved elasticity and strength: Collagen contributes to the flexibility of tendons and ligaments, enabling smooth joint movement.
2. Cartilage protection: Cartilage is the connective tissue that covers the ends of the bones in a joint. Collagen helps maintain the structure of cartilage, protecting it from wear and degradation.
3. Reduces inflammation: Collagen can help reduce inflammation in joints, which is common in arthritis.
4. Healing effect: Collagen aids healing by accelerating the regeneration of skin cells, enabling faster recovery after surgery.

What type of collagen should I use? 

Several types of collagen exist in our bodies, the best types for joint health being type I and type II collagen. Type I collagen accounts for 90% of all collagen in the human body. It is therefore just as effective on joints as type II. However, type 1 collagen needs to be dosed at 8 or 10 grams and hydrolyzed with functional peptides, for better management of joint pain. The collagen present in cartilage is essential for its regeneration.

To see its effectiveness on your joint health, osteoarthritis or osteoporosis, you need to take your supplement in the form of a regular course of treatment. 3 months without interruption in your morning or evening routine will enable you to really see a difference before and after the cure. 

How can I add Collagen to my diet, and for how long?

There are several ways to increase your collagen intake:

1) First, as a dietary supplement based on hydrolyzed collagen.

This is the easiest and quickest way to consume collagen for health. Collagen supplements are available in powder, capsule or pre-prepared drink form (but often stabilized with preservatives and chemical thickeners, so we don't recommend these ready-to-use drinks).  Powdered supplements in sachet form offer one of the best options for boosting your collagen intake while respecting the hygiene and quality of your product. In fact, these supplements enable you to boost your endogenous collagen and are the ideal solution for avoiding aches and pains. 

How do you use it to make it work? 

To see its effectiveness on your joint health, osteoarthritis or osteoporosis, you need to take your supplement in the form of a regular course of treatment. 3 months without interruption in your morning or evening routine will enable you to really see a difference before and after the cure.

Which collagen supplement is best?

Finding the right collagen on the market is no easy task. And yet, quality is essential for effectiveness and results on your joint pain. 

There are a number of criteria involved in finding the right collagen dietary supplement.

What are the criteria for good collagen?

First, there are technical criteria: 

• Raw material: The choice of raw material is important. Marine collagen is the most similar to the human body matrix and to the composition of our own human collagen. 
• Dosage : Dosage plays a major role in a product's effectiveness: The higher the concentration, the more consistent your product. The same applies to collagen taken as a supplement, and all clinical studies show that below 8 to 10g, you won't be able to help your joints, or avoid pain. As your body ages, it is no longer able to produce enough endogenous collagen, so taking concentrated doses of 10g will help you rebalance the loss. 
• Galenics  : Collagen in the wrong dosage won't provide an effective response to osteoarthritis pain. That's why you should opt for powdered collagen, the only form of collagen that offers a higher dosage than capsules. 
• Collagen bioavailability: Collagen needs to be hydrolyzed to be effective, i.e. cut to make it relatively assimilable by the body, as the native collagen molecule is a macro-molecule that cannot be assimilated as it stands. This requires a molecular weight below 5000 daltons. 

Which collagen to choose? 

Vita Recherche's know-how and quality criteria meet the following criteria: 

• A The naturalness of marine collagen made in France: Their Marin Collagen of excellence, extracted from fish skins, is an excellent source of hydrolyzed collagen of unrivalled purity. 
• Quality, with Clean Label formulations and a hermetically sealed sachet that favors natural collagen with no chemical additives or stabilizers: Their collagen in sachet form means it can be preserved without being altered by air, and without the bacteria too often found in jars that are constantly opened and closed. 
• A signal effect: the only guarantee of efficient collagen in the body: their collagen will stimulate and target endogenous collagen reproductive cells. 
• Research thanks to studies: a guarantee of proven results. 

The Vita Recherche laboratory also works with doctors on shoulder joint problems, tennis elbow and meta carpal tunnel, and with the Stade Français for top-level rugby athletes on problems of tendinopathy, muscle fibril breakage and sports recovery.

Medical recommendations: doctors agree that collagen in the form of a drinkable powder is beneficial to the body and skin, provided the product meets a certain number of qualities like those of Vita Recherche.

2) Next, In food form: 

You can use collagen-rich foods: some foods, such as bone broth, fish, meat, and gelatin, are naturally rich in collagen.

Unfortunately, modern food will never give you the quantity you need to renew your own native collagen. You'd have to eat several marrow bones a day, for example, and there you'll find even more amino acids that aren't necessarily just collagen.  

You can also use plant sources to relieve joint pain and inflammation, such as turmeric, blackcurrant, harpagophytum, sapwood, lime blossom and meadowsweet. 

Natural solutions are always good to use.

3) Finally, in the form of injections: 

There are several forms of injections that can be used to help treat joint problems. These injections are generally administered by healthcare professionals, such as doctors or rheumatologists. Here are some of the forms of injections commonly used for joint problems:

Corticoids (or corticosteroids): These anti-inflammatory drugs can be injected directly into the joint to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Corticosteroids are often used to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Hyaluronic acid: This substance is naturally present in the synovial fluid that lubricates joints. Injections of hyaluronic acid aim to improve the viscosity of synovial fluid, which can help relieve the pain associated with osteoarthritis.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP):  This technique uses the patient's own blood, which is centrifuged to concentrate the platelets. PRP is then injected into the joint to stimulate tissue regeneration and promote healing.

Local analgesics:  Injections of local analgesics can be used to temporarily relieve pain in the joint.

It's important to note that the choice of injection form depends on the type of joint problem, the severity of the condition and other medical factors specific to each patient.

To sum up:

Collagen is much more than a substance for beautiful skin; it plays a vital role in the health of our joints. By improving elasticity, protecting cartilage and reducing inflammation, collagen can help manage joint problems. However, it is not a miracle cure, and results may vary from one person to another. Taking it as a 1-3 months course of treatment will already bring you improvement, and you can continue as needed. So, if you're really suffering from joint problems, it's a good idea to consider adding collagen to your diet.  

Before starting any diet or supplement, it's a good idea to consult a healthcare professional, especially if you have severe joint problems. They'll be able to guide you on the best approach for your specific situation.