When you have too much collagen, your skin can stretch, thicken, and harden. It also can cause damage to internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
When an immune response tricks tissues into thinking they are injured, it causes inflammation, and the body makes too much collagen, leading to scleroderma. Too much collagen in your skin and other tissues causes patches of tight, hard skin.
Reported side effects have affected a relatively small number of people and have typically been related to the digestive system. Collagen is a protein, after all, and your body has to work to break it down. Some have reported experiencing indigestion, bloating, and gas after taking too much collagen.
A 2021 systematic review published in Amino Acids found that people treated with 5 to 15 grams per day of collagen peptide supplementation experienced reduced joint pain and functionality compared to those who didn't take the collagen. Taking this supplement daily may help people suffering from joint pain.
collagen will not cause weight gain. Weight gain is the result of consuming more calories than you are burning. Collagen does not contain excessive calories.
There is no treatment that can cure or stop the overproduction of collagen that is characteristic of scleroderma.
Collagen is considered to be well tolerated with no major side-effects. Minor side-effects include: a feeling of heaviness in your stomach. mild diarrhoea.
Because the fibrils in collagen are large molecules, it takes time for the body to break them down and an excess can lead to indigestion, bloating and even headaches and fatigue.
Therefore, because collagen contains glycine, ingesting it can help you to fall asleep much faster. This hit of glycine will lower your body temperature, tricking your body into thinking that it's time to rest.
Collagen supplements may not be safe for: People with fish, shellfish, or egg allergies (collagen supplements may contain these allergens as ingredients)16.
Collagen and mood
Ingesting collagen as your main form of protein can potentially lead to a deficit in tryptophan. A decrease in tryptophan results in lower serotonin levels and has the potential to cause feelings of anxiety, irritability, and depression (particularly if you already suffer from a mood disorder.)
Collagen production throughout your life does not precisely mirror the rise and fall of estrogen levels, but the two are certainly correlated. Since estrogen is a key component in activating fibroblasts, high levels of estrogen are linked to high collagen production.
Collagen supplements are not safe for everyone because there are dangerous side effects and serious quality issues. You can keep taking it, but just know this. It has downsides and serious side effects including diarrhea, bloating, allergic reactions, cramps and other digestive issues.
Collagen's role in the body
Collagen is a protein that serves as one of the main building blocks for your bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. "Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look," says dermatologist Dr. Ohara Aivaz.
Sun Exposure:
Research has shown that sun exposure is linked to collagen loss. It impacts the DNA in your skin's cells and produces free radicals that can decrease the collagen in your skin. Using SPF daily can help reduce the impact of sun exposure.
What Hurts Your Collagen Levels? Besides time, three main things will lower your collagen levels: sunlight, smoking, and sugar. Too much exposure to ultraviolet light makes its fibers unravel. This can lead to sun damage, such as wrinkles.
“Collagen supplements may cause digestive discomforts, such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea,“ explained Kathryn Piper, RDN, LD, NBC-HWC. Taking too much collagen may cause bloating as well.
While it was highest one hour after taking the supplement, the effects were measured and showed to remain in the blood for twenty-four hours. After which levels went back down to normal. The findings? Daily ingestion of collagen for an extended period does make it into our system to be used by the body.
Helps support your liver and detox systems - Glycine helps protect your liver from toxins and can help repair any liver damage. Protects your heart and cardiovascular health - Proline another component of collagen may help repair arteries and clear fat deposits from them. It's also been shown to reduce blood pressure.
As a protein, collagen could help increase your body's level of satiety hormones, including glucagon-like peptide-1 and cholecystokinin. Evidence also shows that collagen may suppress the hormone ghrelin, the culprit responsible for those intense hunger feelings.
Collagen is known to provide an abundant source of the amino acid glycine. This blocks a common compound that inhibits thyroid function. As our immune system breaks the toxins down, a compound called endotoxin is released. It further activates an inflammatory response which could lower thyroid hormone levels.
Progesterone and estrogen differentially regulate components of collagen and elastic fibers.
Studies have also shown that collagen can improve cognitive functioning. This means that collagen could improve your ability to perform basic tasks such as thinking, learning, memorising, solving problems, making decisions and focusing.
It can also protect against neurological damage when you have a stroke. In more casual situations, taking glycine from collagen can benefit your brain health by increasing your visual and verbal memory and improving your attention.