What Does Collagen Do?

Collagen, a topic that has become increasingly popular in recent days, can indeed be effective. Particularly, collagen products that frequently appear on social media might directly influence your thoughts about collagen. To access accurate information about collagen and choose the right foods and other products for yourself is of utmost importance. Therefore, it's necessary to first acquire knowledge about fundamental topics like what collagen is and what its purpose is.

Various types of collagen proteins are found in the body, and their fundamental role is to regulate connective tissues to form the body's natural structure.

Although their primary function is to support connective tissue structure, each of them has specialized tasks. Below are briefly explained the most prevalent types of collagen in the body and their functions.

Type 1 Collagen:
Ninety percent of the collagen in the body is Type 1 collagen. It is found in tightly bundled fiber-like structures and is responsible for the formation of bone, skin, tendons, fibrous cartilage, and tooth structure.

Type 2 Collagen:
In this type, collagen fibers are loosely packed compared to Type 1. It is found in elastic cartilage in joints. It accounts for 90-95% of the total protein content in cartilage. Mechanistically, it is used in the treatment of joint diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Type 3 Collagen:
It is composed of mesh-like fibers and is a fundamental component of the extracellular matrix. It is found in the structure of muscles, organs, and blood vessels, often coexisting with Type 1 collagen. It provides the skin's elasticity and firmness and is present in blood vessels, wounds, and specific tumors.

Type 4 Collagen:
Found in the layers of the skin, Type 4 collagen has a crucial role in forming the basal lamina in endothelial cells that surround organs, muscles, and fat. The basal lamina is necessary for various nerve and blood vessel functions. It covers much of our digestive and respiratory surfaces. It can be found in the gaps between the uppermost layer and the deepest layer of the skin/tissue. It is a thin gel-like fluid layer that provides a cushion/filling for the tissue above it.

References:

[1] https://www.florence.com.tr/kolajen-takviyesi 
[2] https://www.medicalpark.com.tr/kolajen/hg-2367 
[3] Özge, A. T. A., & Tavman, Åž. KOLAJEN EKSTRAKSÄ°YON YÖNTEMLERÄ°NÄ°N KARÅžILAÅžTIRILMASI. Gıda, 44(3), 383-395. 
[4] https://draxe.com/nutrition/what-is-collagen/