Collagens are the most ubiquitous protein in mammals. It is suggested that around 30% of the total protein mass in the human body is attributed to collagens. Collagens are polypeptide strings of amino acids, located in the extracellular matrix, each have a unique amino acid profile, in fact there are at least 28 different collagens, referred to as the Collagen Superfamily.
Collagens are the most ubiquitous protein in mammals. It is suggested that around 30% of the total protein mass in the human body is attributed to collagens. Collagens are polypeptide strings of amino acids, located in the extracellular matrix, each have a unique amino acid profile, in fact there are at least 28 different collagens, referred to as the Collagen Superfamily.
Collagens share the structural feature of a triple helix which ranges in the proportion of its presence. For example, Type I collagen is 96% triple helix, while Type XII collagen features just 10%.
It is the elasticity of collagen that makes it unique and structurally beneficial. Collagens act as structural proteins in tissue, for example, the tensile strength of skin, resistance to traction in tendons and ligaments, the contractility of the blood vessel walls and organ tissues. It is this vast ubiquity that makes collagen content so important, in fact it goes far beyond the aesthetic appearance of skin and the development of wrinkles, but affects important structures such as the heart, blood vessels and lungs. Aside from their structural functions collagens interact with cells via receptors, regulate cell growth, cell differentiation and cell migration.
Collagens are long serving proteins that are negatively affected by glycation and oxidative damage, which accumulate over time, thus ageing. It is considered that collagen production slows from age 25, and around 50% of collagen is lost by the age of 50. Glycation increases with age and generates cross linkages that contribute to stiffness of collagens. A prime example is the wrinkles that form around the mouth of smokers. In terms of oxidative damage, collagens are degraded by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are associated with mediating inflammation. MMPs cleave fibril forming collagens into fragments and thus denature the structure and subsequent function of the collagens.
The dominant amino acids in collagen constitute alanine, glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, while lesser quantities of valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, serine, threonine, methionine, arginine, histidine, lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and hydroxylysine are present. Vitamin C is necessary to activate proline and lysine hydroxylases to transform procollagen into mature, insoluble collagens.
Ingredients
Streptococcus thermophilus CUL68 2064 1.5 x 109 (1.5 Billion) CFU
Vollagen® 2500mg
Magnesium Ascorbate (Vitamin C) 250mg
Chicory Root Extract (Cichorium intybus root) 1000mg
Directions For Use
As a food supplement, mix one heaped teaspoon, 5g into water or juice daily.
Recommended for children 12 years and over.
SKU:
UPC:
39873
5060003591580