COLLAGEN: A PRECIOUS ALLY AGAINST AGING
Collagen is a protein produced by the body that has a great importance for the health of skin and cartilage, bones, muscles, tendons and joints, as it is related to the structure of connective tissue. In an anti-aging perspective, we know that collagen biosynthesis starts to decrease as the aging process progresses, bringing with it a range of different consequences.
23-02-2024
What is collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, a fundamental component of the connective tissue that provides resistance, structure and tone. In the young tissues, collagen fibers are well organized, intact and dense, so that their structural task works efficiently. However, as time passes, this efficiency is lost due to collagen degradation which makes the arrangement less neat and the fibers more fragile and irregular. This deterioration is the main cause of the loss of tissue tone, elasticity and strength.
The role of collagen
To understand the consequences of the decreasing of collagen in the tissues, it must be remembered what functions it has and what benefits it brings to organic well-being.
- As a fundamental component of connective tissue, collagen is essential for skin health as it guarantees elasticity and tone. Collagen is an essential ally against wrinkles, laxity and signs of aging.
- It keeps your cartilages healthy and strong, preserving joint well-being and preventing degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis.
- For muscle and tendon, collagen maintains tone and strength, protecting them from impoverishment, weakening, loss of mass and flexibility.
- The role of collagen in bone tissue guarantees its solidity and density, so much so that it’s hypothesized to have a preventive function regarding disorders such as osteoporosis.
- It also contributes to blood vessels' health, keeping them elastic and resistant.
How to fight collagen degradation
Aging, together with exposure to UV rays and autoimmune diseases, is among the main causes of damage and decline in collagen production. To compensate, it’s recommended to prefer a healthy and balanced diet that can provide the right nutrients for the collagen production: the main nutrients involved in the collagen synthesis process are vitamin C, zinc, copper and the amino acids proline and glycine. Therefore, foods to choose are broccoli and cabbage, mushrooms, chicken, turkey and pork, fish and dried fruit.
Collagen supplementation
In addition to the diet, to support collagen production it is useful to intervene with a focused supplementation. Collagen supplements, in fact, can be valid allies to slow down the disorders linked to aging and loss of tone and elasticity of the skin. These supplements provide the body with the amino acids needed to synthesize collagen so that age-related production deficits can be compensated for. In some cases, collagen may undergo a hydrolysis process to break it down into peptides, so that the smaller fragments can be better absorbed by the body. Collagen supplements are available in different forms and can act both topically and systemically: it’s therefore necessary to follow a therapeutic plan tailored to the patient's needs, with times and doses adapted to the patient.
The Bonaccorso Studio implements the principles of anti-aging medicine to prevent and slow down the skin, cellular, brain and musculoskeletal aging. Dr. Michele Bonaccorso is a medical doctor, specializing in anesthesiology and intensive care. He has been studying functional medicine for over 10 years.
Studio Bonaccorso is available
to answer all questions.
Studio Bonaccorso is available to answer all questions.
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