Can Collagen Supplements Help Manage Joint Pain?

Maintaining joint health is a common conce among adults, with many worried about developing pain or arthritis as they age – and with good reason. According to the CDC, more than 22% of adults have received an arthritis diagnosis, with that number expected to reach 26% by 2040, and that number doesn’t include other forms of joint pain. It’s one of the most common complaints among American adults, but this breakdown may be avoidable, or at least manageable. The key: collagen supplements.

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is a type of connective tissue and is the most common protein in our bodies. It’s what makes our skin elastic, and it also supports joint stability and cushions our joints against impact when running and walking. As we age, however, our bodies progressively produce less collagen, which is why our skin becomes more fragile and is one of the reasons people develop joint pain; over time, there’s just not enough collagen to protect the joint.

Collagen Supplement – A Range Of Options

Collagen supplements have become extremely popular in the last few years, but they aren’t all created equal. Rather, if you peruse the shelves or your local store, you’ll find several different types of collagen. Which kind you choose depends at least in part on what part of your body you’re targeting, since there are also multiple types of collagen in the human body.

Among the most common are type II collagen, which is found in bones and cartilage, and type I and III, which play a major role in skin health. For those worried about joint health, then, it’s important to pick a collagen supplement that will help bolster type II collagen production – but which type is that?

Bovine Collagen Benefits

Some of the best collagen products for supporting joint and cartilage health are those supplements made from bovine collagen, which is derived from cows. This type of collagen has demonstrated benefits when it comes to reducing osteoarthritis pain, while also contributing to long-term joint health in those who haven’t yet developed any problems. The other major advantage of bovine collagen is price – compared to other popular forms, like marine and especially shark collagen, bovine collagen is affordable for the average consumer.

How Does It Work?

When we ingest collagen supplements, it’s not as though complete collagen molecules migrate to the sites where it’s needed. Rather, most collagen products are made from what’s known as hydrolyzed collagen, which means that it’s been broken up into its component parts – in this case, into the many amino acids that make up collagen. Our bodies then use those amino acids to generate more collagen, which is then recruited to the sites where it will be use, just as the knees and hands.

Can You Benefit?

Younger people who are still producing large amounts of collagen naturally may not see significant benefits from supplementing with collagen, but those over age 25, and particularly over age 30, may experience less pain with movement. That’s because, by age 30, collagen production has been declining by a small amount every year for about five years, long enough that some people may notice the difference. Collagen isn’t a magic bullet that will take away your pain ove ight, but over time, it can help your body defend against ordinary wear and tear and help you keep moving.