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Hydrolyzed collagen is usually made from type I collagen by an enzymatic hydrolysis process. It is also called collagen hydrolysate, collagen peptide, gelatine, gelatine hydrolysate and hydrolyzed gelatine.

Contents 1 Hydrolyzed collagen characteristics 1.1 Amino-acid content 2 Health benefits 2.1 Digestibility 2.2 Skin Health 2.3 Joint & Bone Health 2.4 Nutrition 2.5 Cosmetics 3 Uses 4 References

[edit] Hydrolyzed collagen characteristics

Hydrolyzed collagen is mainly extracted from the bones and the skin from porcine, bovine and fish origin. The hydrolysis process allows to cut the collagen protein of about 300 000 Da, in small peptides having an average molecular weight comprise between 2000 and 5000 Da.

[edit] Amino-acid content

The amino-acid content of hydrolyzed collagen is the same as collagen. Hydrolyzed Collagen contains 20 amino acids, including 8 out of 9 essential amino-acids (there is no tryptophan). It is characterized by the predominance of glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, which represents around 50% of the total amino-acid content. Glycine and proline concentration is 10 to 20 times higher than in other proteins ^[1].

Amino-acids	Percentage
Proline/Hydroxyproline	25%
Glycine	20%
Glutamic acid	11%
Arginine	8%
Alanine	8%
Essential amino-acids	16%
Others	12%

[edit] Health benefits

Hydrolyzed collagen is a highly digestible protein, and an oral ingestion has been reported as having beneficial effects on joint & bone health, on skin health and for weight management and sports performance.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Digestibility

The bioavailability of hydrolyzed collagen has been demonstrated by many studies. In a study of 1999, scientists demonstrated on mice that more than 90% of orally administered ¹⁴C labelled hydrolyzed collagen is digested and absorbed in 6 hours after ingestion. An important part is accumulated in cartilage and skin^[2] . In another study of 2005, scientists showed that the hydrolyzed collagen is absorbed in small peptides in the blood^[3] .

[edit] Skin Health

One preclinical study investigated the effects of oral ingestion of hydrolyzed collagen, along with vitamin C and glucosamine, on the skin properties of women tending to have dry and rough skin. This study suggested that, with the ingestion of 5g per day during 6 weeks, the moisture content of the skin, its viscoelastic properties and its smoothness improved.^[4]

Regarding the mechanism of action of hydrolyzed collagen on skin, it seems that orally ingested hydrolyzed collagen increases the density of collagen fibrils and the fibroblasts density (the fibroblasts being the main cells of the dermis, and the ones which produce collagen) ^[5]. The explanation of this action may be that the peptides of ingested hydrolyzed collagen have chemotactic properties on fibroblasts ^[6] or an influence on growth of fibroblasts ^[7].

[edit] Joint & Bone Health

The action of hydrolyzed collagen on joint health is probably the most studied. Many clinical studies report that the oral ingestion of 10g of hydrolyzed collagen by day decreases the joint pain, and that patients having the most severe symptoms benefited more ^[8][9]. This beneficial action is probably due to the fact that hydrolyzed collagen is accumulated in cartilage ^[2] and stimulates the production of collagen by the chondrocytes, the cells of cartilage ^[10] .

On bone health, several studies have shown that a daily intake of 10g per day of hydrolyzed collagen for 4 to 24 weeks increases bone mass density ^[11][12] . It seems that hydrolyzed collagen peptides stimulated the differentiation and the activity of osteoblasts, the cells that build the bone, instead of osteoclasts, those that destroy it.

[edit] Nutrition

Hydrolyzed collagen is a good protein to use in blends with others for a weight management diet. It contains 8 out of 9 essential amino-acids, and proteins are recognized as being the most satiating macronutrient ^[13]. Hydrolyzed collagen is also a good ingredient for a sportive diet. It is important for sportsmen to restore their protein content after an exercise, and the consumption of hydrolyzed collagen that contains more than 97% of protein can help it. Hydrolyzed collagen also contains some glycine and arginine, two of the three amino-acids of the creatine, a molecule which present in the body and having an important play during the exercise, providing energy to the body. Finally, hydrolyzed collagen contains some arginine, which has been shown to be efficient to improve the athletic performance ^[12].

[edit] Cosmetics

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Hydrolyzed collagen is used in cosmetics for its moisturizing properties.

[edit] Uses

When submitted to strict quality controls and sensorial panels ^[14] , Hydrolyzed collagen may have excellent organoleptic properties, and be taste and odor-free. Due to those properties, it is easy to use in foods and beverages, as well as in powder blends or dietary supplements. Many functional products are already available, especially in Japan. Regarding the cosmetics, hydrolyzed collagen occurs in many products: shampoos, conditioners, soaps, face cares, or even in make-up.

[edit] References