Marine collagen supplements with hyaluronic acid and vitamins
Updated
Many people supplement with collagen to replace some of the collagen we naturally lose with age. Unfortunately, we lose 1-1.5% of our collagen each year after the age of 30. Collagen decline results in a loss of skin elasticity and hydration, contributing to the wrinkles and fine lines that we associate with age. Many supplements contain marine collagen for its high proportion of type I collagen fibres – the skin also contains primarily type I collagen.
In addition to marine collagen, many high-quality supplements contain additional ingredients that support the skin, hair, and nails. In fact, some ingredients even work synergistically with marine collagen. This article will cover how you can benefit from combining marine collagen with hyaluronic acid and certain vitamins, including vitamin C, vitamin E and biotin, into one marine collagen complex supplement.
Taking marine collagen and hyaluronic acid together
Hyaluronic acid is abundant in the skin and contributes to skin hydration – it can hold up to 6000 times its weight in water. As we age, we lose hyaluronic acid, so supplementation to replace it could be beneficial for dry skin.
Hyaluronic acid holds moisture in the skin and acts as a scavenger for free radicals. Free radicals can damage cellular structures and proteins, including collagen and fibroblast cells (the cells that produce collagen).
Marine collagen is typically taken with hyaluronic acid because of their combined benefits for the skin as we age. Hyaluronic acid helps to replenish what is lost with age, while hydrolysed collagen has been shown to stimulate both collagen synthesis and hyaluronic acid production.
Taking marine collagen and vitamin C together
Vitamin C is commonly found in collagen supplements, and this pairing is highly beneficial. Vitamin C is a co-factor for some enzymes involved in collagen production. Without vitamin C, normal collagen formation is impaired.
It is vital to take an adequate amount of vitamin C for the maintenance of healthy, normal skin; however, higher dosages of vitamin C may even be able to increase type I collagen production.
Another reason vitamin C is important for the skin is that it is an antioxidant – it scavenges free radicals that damage the skin, including collagen structures. Oxidative damage is the primary driving force behind tissue ageing, so supplementing with antioxidants is important for helping to maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.
Taking marine collagen and vitamin E
Similarly to vitamin C, vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and may also play a role in maintaining skin hydration . The most significant factor that affects skin ageing is oxidative damage; reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause oxidative damage are generated naturally from metabolism and external factors such as UV radiation. Vitamin E is the predominant antioxidant present in the skin, so it is responsible for protecting the skin from much of this oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress can induce the breakdown of collagen structures, and fibroblasts are also damaged in the process. Therefore, protecting the skin from oxidative damage is crucial to maintaining collagen levels and skin elasticity.
In addition to its antioxidant properties, vitamin E can boost the efficacy of vitamin C eight-fold; this is because the vitamins can regenerate one another. As mentioned, vitamin C is closely linked to collagen formation, so it would also be beneficial to supplement with vitamin E when supplementing with vitamin C.
Read more about marine collagen and vitamin E supplements
here.
Taking marine collagen and biotin
Biotin is an essential nutrient that we need to obtain from our diet. It is involved in many metabolic processes, including the formation of non-essential amino acids. Biotin deficiencies often present physically in the hair and nails; as a result, it has become a popular ingredient in food supplements for avoiding deficiencies that could affect the hair.
Additionally, hydrolysed marine collagen supplements contain many of the same amino acids found in keratin, the protein found in the hair and nails. Collagen supplementation may contribute some amino acids for keratin production.
Finally, since biotin is important for producing non-essential amino acids, it is essential for maintaining nail and hair health. Collagen production also requires essential and non-essential amino acids, which can be provided through collagen supplementation and with adequate amounts of biotin in the diet. For this reason, it may be beneficial to supplement with biotin and marine collagen together.
What vitamins go well with marine collagen?
There are plenty of ingredients that can support the function of marine collagen in the body or support the hair, skin and nails. The table below explores some ingredients that pair well with marine collagen and states their function concerning collagen synthesis, oxidative stress and anything else relevant to the skin, hair and nails. The table also suggests some other beneficial nutrient combinations.
INGREDIENT |
ANTIOXIDANT? |
COLLAGEN SYNTHESIS |
FUNCTION |
BEST TAKEN WITH… |
---|---|---|---|---|
HYALURONIC ACID |
Yes |
No |
Skin hydration |
Phytoceramides and vitamin E, and vitamin C |
VITAMIN C |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid |
VITAMIN E |
Yes |
Indirectly |
May support the skin moisture barrier |
Vitamin C, phytoceramides and hyaluronic acid |
BIOTIN |
No |
No |
Maintenance of normal hair and nails |
Selenium, Copper, Vitamin C and vitamin E. |
SELENIUM |
Yes |
No |
Maintenance of normal hair, skin and nails |
Biotin, copper, vitamin C and vitamin E |
COPPER |
Yes |
No |
Maintenance of normal hair pigmentation and connective tissue |
Biotin, Selenium vitamin C, and vitamin E |
PHYTOCERAMIDES |
No |
No |
Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and vitamin C |
When looking for an effective marine collagen complex supplement for the skin, hair and nails, it is vital to consider the pairing of ingredients. Refer to the table above and look for mutually beneficial ingredient combinations in the nutritional information of your supplement. Beauty Complex is a marine collagen powder supplement formulated to effectively deliver eight active ingredients to support the skin, hair and nails. Each Beauty Complex daily sachet includes a carefully chosen dose of marine collagen hydrolysate, vitamin C, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, biotin, Selenium, Copper and phytoceramides. This potent combination of ingredients is designed to support the skin, the hair and the nails without the guesswork of supplement mixing.
Sources
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Skin collagen through the lifestages: importance for skin health and beauty
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Skin Photoaging and the Role of Antioxidants in Its Prevention
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High-dose vitamin C supplementation accelerates the Achilles tendon healing in healthy rats
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Vitamin E in human skin: Organ-specific physiology and considerations for its use in dermatology