Collagen is essential for your body since it provides strength, support, and a proper structure. It keeps tissues together and preserves the integrity of muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, and bones. It is also crucial for repairing tissue and maintaining the elasticity of skin.
Collagen fibre is the most prevalent protein in your body. It makes up around 30% of the total protein in your body. The main component of your skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues is collagen. This protein is also found in your blood vessels, organs, and intestinal lining.
Only connective tissue-containing animal flesh, such as meat and fish, naturally contains collagen fibre. Nonetheless, human bodies consume a wide range of plant and animal foods to produce collagen. As you age, your body gradually produces less collagen. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, excessive exposure to the sun, and lack of sleep can reduce collagen.
The most important function of collagen fibre is to provide strength and support to your body. These are some other important functions of collagen:
Despite all of these, collagen fibres have special functions for blood vessels and bone matrices that are discussed below.
Bone has to strike a balance between being strong, stiff, and tough. The mechanical function of collagen fibre is well-suited for this. It is very strong, resistant to shear and strain, and offers a well-organised matrix for mineral apatite crystal formation and deposition as well as water binding.
The two main constituents of bone's extracellular matrix are the inorganic salt hydroxyapatite and collagenous organic components. Inorganic salt hydroxyapatite contributes high compressive strength, and the collagenous organic component gives high tensile strength. The hydroxyapatite crystals are deposited in a highly organized manner along the collagen fibrils, which gives bone its remarkable combination of tensile strength (from collagen) and compressive strength (from mineral).
Collagen is a structural protein of the blood artery wall. It often exists underneath the cells lining the inner walls of vessels. Damage to a blood artery exposes collagen, which draws platelets from circulation and results in blood clotting. Additionally, collagen is essential for regulating the function of blood vessel wall cells.
There are around 28 to 30 different types of collagen. They vary in the way the molecules are put together, the cell components that are added, and the biological functions of collagen. The five main types of collagen and their functions are:
During digestion, dietary collagen is broken down into its constituent amino acids and small peptides, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream. These building blocks are used throughout the body for various synthetic processes, including the production of new collagen. However, consuming collagen-rich foods does not guarantee these specific amino acids will be used solely for collagen synthesis; they are allocated based on the body's current needs.
Still, you must consume foods that contain this fibre as part of your healthy diet. High-protein meals contain a large quantity of collagen. They include the amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which are necessary for the formation of collagen. Fish, dairy products, meat, eggs, lentils, and soy are a few examples of collagen-rich foods.
Genetic disorders and dietary deficits impact the processes involved in normal collagen formation. Here is the list of diseases and other factors that damage collagen fibres in your body:
Collagen fibres play a crucial role in providing structure and support to your body. You may always eat a balanced diet, including nutritious foods, to assist your body in producing collagen naturally. Chicken, meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, beans, leafy greens, other vegetables, whole grains, and citrus fruits are all components of a well-balanced diet.