Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and is found in bones, muscles, skin, and tendons. It is made of amino acids, specifically glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and arginine. Collagen peptide supplements are typically derived from bovine or fish connective tissue, from marine collagen, or from the cartilage, bone, and membrane of the chicken eggshell. Collagen has many health benefits, such as improving skin, hair and nails, preventing bone loss, relieving pain in joints, increasing muscle mass and promoting brain health.
It can also be beneficial to many medical procedures. Studies show that collagen intake appears to be particularly useful for certain purposes and populations, such as to increase bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal people who have low BMD. Many people take collagen supplements daily or add collagen powder to their coffee, tea, or smoothie. However, excessive sun exposure degrades collagen production, so using sunscreen and avoiding excessive sun exposure can help prevent signs of premature skin aging. Cigarette smoking and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol also negatively affect collagen production. The ability to safely and effectively genetically modify collagen can be beneficial to many medical procedures.
Pastoris is the most effective and commonly used for the genetic engineering of high-quality collagen. While collagen loss and damage as you age is inevitable, certain dietary and lifestyle factors can speed up this process. Eating a diet high in ultra-processed foods and added sugar can reduce collagen production. Drinking too much has also been shown to accelerate skin aging by reducing collagen production and damaging skin repair mechanisms.
