Peptides and Collagen are a hot topic in the world of skincare. Let’s start by breaking apart the definition of a peptide. In short, a peptide is a small chain of amino acids or basically a shorter version of protein. Peptide proteins are found in every cell in the body and work in different ways to affect processes in our body from weight loss, aging, and brain function. Researchers continue to study the effects that naturally occurring peptides have on our bodies. To do so, due to the power of science, peptides can be produced on a mass scale in laboratories and studied in animals such as mice and rats. There are endless studies now on peptide use in the bodies of mice and rats and how these peptides may impact future use outside of scientific laboratories.
Collagen, a naturally occurring protein in the body, can do wonders for the skin and it’s not secret to the beauty industry. Collagen peptides are found in many places within the body including the skin, bones, cartilage, blood vessels, organs, and intestinal lining. Collagen peptides make up the most amount of proteins in the body, making it one of the most significant bodily proteins. Collagen proteins are made from proline, glycine and hydroxyproline which are naturally occurring amino acids within the body. As we age we lose collagen peptides thus the aging process begins and our skin becomes less supple, more saggy, and we begin to form wrinkles. Collagen is thought to be the secret to the fountain of youth and research is continually being conducted in laboratory trials to determine how the supplementation of collagen may affect the aging process.
Because collagen is a naturally occurring protein in humans and animals, it can be found in foods such as fish, pork skin, chicken skin, and beef products. Homemade bone broth is often cited as a potent and effective source of collagen.
How does Collagen Help?
Collagen helps the skin stay firm and supple and can slow the aging process if someone’s body contains more collagen peptides than others or its depletion is progression at a slower rate. Because collagen is also found in bones, it can reduce the rate at which bones decay and breakdown. Osteoporosis is a condition that occurs due to the breakdown of collagen in the bones. Collagen can also aid in keeping joints and muscles healthy and preventing heart disease and other heart health issues.
Collagen not only helps the body age properly it can also help your blood clot, replaces dead skin cells, gives your skin structure, and is a source of protection for your organs. This amongst many more important functions of the collagen peptide reveal just how crucial of a role naturally occurring collagen plays within the body.
Lab Produced Peptides
Because collagen peptides have so many benefits for the skin and body, scientists are reproducing the collagen peptide, along with many other peptides in laboratories. These artificially produced peptides are studied on mice, rats, and other animal populations. The studies being administered are revealing tremendous benefits in exogenous peptide use but human testing still needs further evaluation. Studies completed on mice and rats showed BPC-157 to be a healing peptide amongst others such as TB-500 and MGF. The peptide GHK-Cu, a naturally occurring peptide, also displayed favorable results for the skin in scientific studies.
The scientific study and research of peptides are vast and have shown potential to be used in the future for things like extending longevity, revitalizing the metabolism, healing injuries, increasing cognitive function and learning abilities, and much more. For now the research continues as scientists and the medical community work together to discover further benefits of naturally occurring peptides in the body and the possibility of using certain peptides beyond the lab.
Peptide and Collagen Overview
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, or short proteins. These proteins make up about 30% of our body’s proteins and without peptides our body would simply not function. Collagen is a type of peptide that is found in various cells in the body including the skin, bones, and cartilage and there are around 28 varieties of identified naturally occurring collagen in the body categorized under 5 different types. Collagen is often associated with its ability to control the skin’s firmness and prevent wrinkles. As we age we begin to lose collagen production in our body. The research community is working effortlessly to find how collagen peptide use may affect the future of beauty and skincare.
