Bovine collagen is a type of protein that comes from cows and has many health benefits, including relieving arthritis, improving skin health, and preventing bone loss.
Although collagen is produced naturally by the human body, it can also be obtained through food and nutritional supplements. Most supplements come from animals and plants, the most common of which are: cows, pigs, and marine species such as fish, jellyfish and sponges. Bovine collagen is widely used, including yaks, antelopes, bison, buffaloes and cows. In fact, most bovine collagen comes mainly from cows.
The production process is to boil cow bones or other cow byproducts in water. After the collagen is extracted, it is dried into a powder to form a natural supplement.
There are more than 20 types of collagen in the human body, and each type of collagen has its own specific role. According to different sources, collagen supplements are divided into the following main types: collagen I, II, III and IV.
Studies have found that bovine collagen can increase type I and type III collagen, while marine collagen can increase type I and type II collagen. Studies have specifically pointed out that collagen in the skin is mainly composed of type I and type III collagen, which means that bovine collagen may reduce wrinkles, increase skin elasticity and skin moisture.
Health Benefits of Bovine Collagen
As we age, collagen production naturally decreases in our bodies, which can lead to a number of health problems, including bone, joint and skin problems. In addition to natural aging, other factors can also affect collagen production, including smoking, high intake of sugar or refined carbohydrates, and long-term exposure to the sun, which can bring risks of reduced collagen production. Therefore, proper supplementation with bovine collagen supplements will help slow the effects of reduced collagen levels.
Bovine collagen may relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common type of arthritis caused by the disintegration of protective cartilage at the ends of bones, which can cause pain and hardening in our hands, knees, hips and other parts of the body. Researchers found in test tube studies of mouse cells that bovine collagen can help improve bone formation and mineralization, which may help osteoarthritis. In addition, in a 13-week study of 30 patients with knee osteoarthritis, those who took 5 grams of bovine collagen twice a day had significantly improved arthritis symptoms.
Can reduce visible signs of aging
Bovine collagen can also improve symptoms of skin aging by improving the quality and quantity of collagen in the skin. An 8-week study in aged rats showed that while bovine collagen supplements did not enhance skin hydration, they did significantly increase skin elasticity, collagen content, collagen fibers, and antioxidant activity, and also protected against bone loss. In other animal studies, bovine collagen has also been shown to protect against bone loss. Therefore, bovine collagen may be able to help fight osteoporosis, a disease that puts people at higher risk of fractures when bone density decreases. In a 12-week study, rats that took an oral supplement containing bovine collagen and calcium citrate had a significant reduction in bone loss.