April 25, 2023

Written by Rhysa Phommachanh Head of Digital Marketing

How To Choose The Right Collagen For Menopause

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and is often accompanied by symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, and joint pain. These changes result from hormonal shifts that occur during this transitional period. To help manage symptoms, many women turn to menopause supplements, including collagen supplements, which provide targeted support for the skin, joints, and bones.

Here, we explore how menopause impacts collagen production, the importance of collagen, and the benefits of collagen supplements for women throughout all stage of menopause.

What Happens to Collagen During Menopause?

Collagen is a natural protein essential for maintaining healthy skin, bones, and joints. Its production naturally declines as we age, but the rate slows even further after menopause due to the drop in oestrogen levels. Although the body continues to produce collagen, the amount prdcued lowers significantly and the quality diminishes, leading to reduced elasticity and strength in tissues.

This decline in collagen can result in:

Dry skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Joint stiffness and discomfort.
Weaker bones and increased risk of fractures.

Supplementing with high-quality collagen peptides provides the building blocks the body needs to support skin elasticity, hydration, and tissue repair.

Benefits of using Collagen for Menopause

Improved skin health:

Collagen is important for skin hydration, firmness, and elasticity. During menopause, declining hormone levels exacerbate collagen loss, leading to dry skin, an increase in wrinkles, and reduced skin elasticity. Clinical studies show that oral collagen supplements can improve skin texture, moisture, and resilience, making them an effective addition to skincare routines for mature skin.

Reduced joint pain:

Hydrolyzed collagen is the most studied collagen in relation to joint health. Collagen is a protein that is abundant in the tissues such as cartilage, skin, and bones, and so when collagen levels decrease with menopause, symptoms like joint pain can arise. A 24-week study on activity-related joint pain in athletes, found that after supplementing with collagen, they experienced less pain and inflammation, highlighting the role of collagen in supporting joint health.

Support for bone health:

Menopause is a time when women are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis due to decreased levels of oestrogen. A study found that collagen peptides influence bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with primary, age-related reduction BMD, supporting that collagen supplements are effective in aiding bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Boosted energy and metabolism:

Collagen is a protein that can help to support muscle mass and metabolism, which can decline during menopause. Supplementing with collagen can help to maintain energy levels and support a healthy metabolism. Many sources of collagen contain an abundant level of the amino acid glycine, which has oestrogen-like osteoprotective effects on the body, such as being able to boost bone mineral density. and better sleep.

Support gut health:

Collagen contains amino acids that can help to support gut health and improve digestion, which can be affected by hormonal changes during menopause. The gut is also known as the 'second brain', and so it is important to restore and maintain the gut flora. For instance, a common sign of menopause is higher stress levels, which negatively influences the gut microbiome, thus contributing to signs of bad gut health such as digestive issues, bloating, sleep problems, fatigue, and more.

benefits of collagen for menopause

Choosing The Right Collagen

With so many collagen supplements on the market, it can be difficult to find the right one to support menopause. There are several factors to consider when searching for the best collagen powder for menopause, including:

1. Types of Collagen:

Type 1 Collagen: Best for skin, hair, nails, and bone health.
Type 3 Collagen: Supports joint and gut health.
Marine Collagen: Rich in type 1 collagen, ideal for skin hydration and anti-ageing.
Bovine Collagen: Contains both type 1 and type 3 collagen, making it effective for joint and gut health.

Type 1 collagen is one of the best for supporting menopause symptoms because it is the most abundant collagen in the body and plays a vital role in maintaining skin elasticity, bone density, and joint health, all of which are significantly impacted during menopause due to declining oestrogen levels.

2. Sources of collagen:

There are two main types of collagen: bovine (from cows) and marine (from fish). Both bovine and marine sources of collagen are beneficial in supporting symptoms and signs of the menopause.

Marine Collagen: Derived from fish, it’s highly bioavailable and rich in type 1 collagen. Most abundant in the skin and bones.
Bovine Collagen: Sourced from cows, it supports joint health and gut repair and rich in type 1 and type 3 collagen.

TYPES OF COLLAGEN AND THEIR SOURCES

3. Quality and purity:

Looking for pure collagen powder for menopause is important because it ensures that the supplement you are taking contains only the collagen protein, without any additional binders and fillers. Supplementing with a pure collagen powder is more effective because it contains a higher concentration of collagen protein. This means that you can take a smaller dose of pure collagen powder and still achieve the same benefits as a larger dose of a less pure supplement.

4. Bioavailability:

Pure collagen powder is also more bioavailable, meaning that it is easily absorbed and utilised by the body. A bioavailable collagen source is collagen in its natural state, without any additional ingredients that may interfere with absorption. You can boost the absorption of collagen into targeted cells by taking it with vitamin C. A high quality collagen containing both ingredients is the Pura Collagen glow+ Advanced Collagen PLUS Formula.

5. Additional ingredients:

When collagen peptides are combined with a blend of other natural ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin c, zinc and more. These ingredients complement each other in addressing needs and concerns during and post menopause.

Vegan Collagen

Vegan collagen supplements have become important due to the growing popularity of plant-based diets.

Vegan collagen derives from plant-based sources instead of the traditional animal sources. We know that high quality brands like Ancient+Brave have vegan collagen powders that contain a diverse range of collagen specific amino acids, intelligent skin supportive botanicals and pure plant proteins enriched with bioactive nutraceuticals and nootropics for daily vegan wellbeing and collagen synthesis.

Can vegan collagen be just as effective as animal-sourced collagen supplements for menopause?

Vegan collagen supplements work differently from traditional animal-sourced collagen. Instead of directly providing collagen, vegan collagen alternatives support the body’s natural collagen synthesis by supplying the necessary amino acids and nutrients. While animal-sourced collagen, such as marine collagen or bovine collagen, delivers pre-formed collagen peptides that are readily absorbed, vegan collagen can still be effective when paired with key ingredients like vitamin C, which is essential for collagen production.

For women experiencing menopause, vegan collagen can help address concerns like skin elasticity, joint health, and bone density by promoting the body's ability to create its own collagen. While animal-sourced collagen remains the preferred choice for targeted and immediate results, vegan collagen is a suitable and effective option for those following a plant-based diet or seeking more sustainable alternatives.

BEST FOR MENOPAUSE: COLLAGEN POWDERS

If you’re looking for an easy way to get collagen into your system, here are some of the forms that are best for menopause. Collagen powders can be added to smoothies and drinks each day.

Collagen Blend

Pura Collagen balance is a bovine collagen blend with KSM-66® Ashwagandha Root Extract, B vitamins and phytoestrogens to support female hormone balance, bone density, memory and concentration. This formula is perfect to use during all stages of the menopause as its formulation contains ingredients that tackle other symptoms including brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, and fluctuating hormone levels. This collagen is also halal certified.

Tasteless Collagen

Ancient+Brave True Collagen is a best-selling collagen because it is completely odourless and tasteless. This collagen is sourced from 100% grass-fed bovine providing type 1 hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides. Loved by Davina McCall, True Collagen provides key nutrients involved in cellular collagen renewal and formation, and is a high quality, clean source of protein to support active and healthy lifestyles.

Marine Collagen

Ancient + Brave Wild Collagen Powder contains bioavailable, type 1, marine collagen peptides, boosted with eight essential amino acids. These formulations are designed to be integrated into targeted cells efficiently, so that they can support the skin, bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilage through collagen stimulation. These powers are neutral tasting and can easily be blended with your daily food and beverages.

Vegan Collagen

Ancient + Brave’s Collagen formulas are a plant-based alternative to collagen peptides. Their vegan collagen powers replace animal-based collagen sources with amino acids, botanicals, bioactive nutraceuticals and nootropics, with choline and buffered vitamin C to support better absorption. These formulations help minimise your risk of common vegan deficiencies, whilst helping to build and protect the body to replenish and renew collagen.

Why Collagen is a Game-Changer for Menopause?

Adding a collagen supplement to your daily routine can help mitigate many of the effects of menopause, from improving skin hydration and elasticity to reducing joint pain and strengthening bones. By choosing the right type and source of collagen, you can ensure your body receives the targeted support it needs during this life stage. For best results, combine your collagen supplement with a balanced diet and a skincare routine tailored to mature skin.