In the year 2008, 15.3 percent or 4.3 million aged 12 or older reported that they were diagnosed with Arthritis. This health issue also costs $33B a year in Canada and puts a strain on the economy and public health care, according to a report released in 2011. It is very likely that with the passage of time, this number would have increased manifold and people suffering from this health issue must be seeking some relief.
If you are among them, you should know how collagen supplements like active collagen can help with arthritis.
Understanding Collagen
In simple words, collagen is a protein that has 16 types. Still, most of the collagen present in your body is Type I, II or III. Type II collagen is usually found in your cartridge while type I and III are present in organs, tendons, and bone. So, people who have arthritis must know about type II collagen and consider a supplement that provides amino acids that can protect and rebuild the cartilage.
Key Types of Collagen Supplements
Before you think of buying a Collagen supplement, you should know that there are three types of collagen supplements, hydrolyzed, gelatin, and undenatured. The first two are broken down from large protein and transformed into small bits. This is done by boiling collagen for a long time so that it can be broken into gelatin. Then collagen is further predigested into a few basic amino acids, namely, hydrolyzed gelatin, collagen hydrolysate, hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptides.
The third type of collagen undenatured collagen isn’t broken down into amino acids or small proteins. Undenatured type II collagen, also known as UC-II is not used by your body as a re-builder of collagen. It is usually used in a process known as oral tolerance in which very small doses of UC-II are taken by a person to train his or her body’s immune system so that it can stop attacking its collagen.
Do Collagen Supplements Work?
You must consider taking the help of collagen supplements to get some relief from arthritis because from a dietary perspective, it’s impossible for your body to tell whether you are getting collagen from black beans, a piece of chicken or a collagen supplement. For your body, these are all sources of protein that can be broken down into amino acids by your digestive supplements.
Taking collagen supplements is also recommended because predigested collagen supplements will ensure that amino acids are more easily available to the body’s tissues. This boost of amino acids that have loads of collagen will be beneficial for your body instantly.
What Researchers Have to Say?
A study conducted in 2017 that was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine mentioned that if you take collagen supplements, you will experience some pain relief. Another study published in Nutrition Journal in 2016 stated that people who receive UC-II instead of placebo or chondroitin sulfate supplements for a time span of 180 days had better relief from stiffness, pain, and function.
One double-blind trial conducted on over 500 people who had rheumatoid arthritis in 2009 discovered that undenatured collagen helped in improving pain, swollen joint count, morning stiffness and tender joint count. It was published in Arthritis Research and Therapy and mentioned that UC-II is a safe and effective treatment option for people who have rheumatoid arthritis.
Experts believe that though there is no evidence that says people who depend on collagen supplements for arthritis will benefit from it, there is enough evidence that says it’s promising and there is a need for more research in this regard.
What to Look for in a Collagen Supplement?
Now, if you are convinced that you need to try collagen supplements to get some relief from arthritis then here is a list of things you should look for while choosing the right supplement.
- Make sure that you pick a plant-based supplement if you are a vegan or vegetarian.
- Avoid supplements that contain artificial sweeteners or colors as these additions might harm your overall health.
- People who have an allergy like gluten allergy must pick supplements that are gluten-free.
- Read the reviews of the supplement you are going to try to get an idea of its effectiveness and the expected results.
- Buy the supplement from a reputed local store or online store to ensure the quality of the product.
- Follow the dosage directions precisely and don’t increase it for faster or better results.
Conclusion
In essence, it can be said that collagen supplements are a good option for people with arthritis as they can provide relief and are usually safe. If you choose the right supplement, it will help you get relief from this painful health condition. Just remember to wait for the results to show and don’t expect a miracle to take away all your arthritis pain instantly.