Joint & Bone Health

Joint & Bone Health

Some clinical studies report that the oral ingestion of 10g of hydrolyzed collagen by day decreases the joint pain, and that patients having the most severe symptoms benefited more.^[9][10]

Other clinical trials have yielded mixed results. Four studies reported positive effects with no side effects. However, the studies were not extensive and all recommended the need for further controlled studies.^{[11][12][13][14]}

Another study found that oral collagen only improved symptoms in a minority of patients and reported nausea as a side effect.^[15] Another study reported no improvement in disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.^[16] Yet another study found that collagen treatment may actually cause an exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.^[17]

Any beneficial action is probably due to the fact that hydrolyzed collagen is accumulated in cartilage ^[3] and stimulates the production of collagen by the chondrocytes, the cells of cartilage.^[18]

On bone health, several studies have shown that a daily intake of 10g per day of hydrolyzed collagen for 4 to 24 weeks increases bone mass density.^[19][20] It seems that hydrolyzed collagen peptides stimulated the differentiation and the activity of osteoblasts, the cells that build the bone, instead of osteoclasts, those that destroy it.

Skin Health

Skin Health

One preclinical study investigated the effects of oral ingestion of hydrolyzed collagen, along with vitamin C and glucosamine, on the skin properties of women tending to have dry and rough skin. This study suggested that, with the ingestion of 5g per day during 6 weeks, the moisture content of the skin, its viscoelastic properties and its smoothness improved.^[5]

Regarding the mechanism of action of hydrolyzed collagen on skin, it seems that orally ingested hydrolyzed collagen increases the density of collagen fibrils and the fibroblasts density (the fibroblasts being the main cells of the dermis, and the ones which produce collagen).^[6] The explanation of this action may be that the peptides of ingested hydrolyzed collagen have chemotactic properties on fibroblasts ^[7] or an influence on growth of fibroblasts

Health benefits

Health benefits

Hydrolyzed collagen is a highly digestible protein, and an oral ingestion has been reported as having beneficial effects on joint & bone health, on skin health and for weight management and sports performance.^{[citation needed]}

Digestibility

The bioavailability of hydrolyzed collagen has been demonstrated by many studies. In a study of 1999, scientists demonstrated on mice that more than 90% of orally administered ¹⁴C labelled hydrolyzed collagen is digested and absorbed in 6 hours after ingestion. An important part is accumulated in cartilage and skin.^[3] In another study of 2005, scientists showed that the hydrolyzed collagen is absorbed in small peptides in the बलूद

Characteristics and production

Characteristics and production

Hydrolyzed collagen is produced from collagen found in the bones, skin, and connective tissue of animals such as cattle, pigs, horses, and fish. The process of hydrolysis involves breaking down the molecular bonds between individual collagen strands using heat and either acid or alkali solutions.

The hydrolysis process results in reducing the collagen proteins of about 300,000 Daltons (Da) into small peptides having an average molecular weight between 2000 and 5000 Da.

Amino acid content

The amino acid content of hydrolyzed collagen is the same as collagen. Hydrolyzed collagen contains 20 amino acids, predominantly glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, which together represent around 50% of the total amino acid content. Glycine and proline concentration is 10 to 20 times higher than in other food sources of protein.^[1]

Hydrolyzed collagen is not a complete protein. It is high in the non-essential amino acids glycine and proline, which are produced by the human body, while lacking certain essential amino acids; that is, those not produced by the human body. It contains no tryptophan and is deficient in lysine, methionine, and tyrosine

Hydrolyzed collagen

Hydrolyzed collagen is usually made from type I collagen by an enzymatic hydrolysis process. It is also called collagen hydrolysate, collagen peptide, gelatine, gelatine hydrolysate and hydrolyzed gelatine.

Whiteness in Japanese culture

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Bihaku (美白^?) is a Japanese fashion style where one aims to have white skin, or a general lack of pigment, to achieve the ideal irojiro (色白^?), or fair skin.

Contents

Summary

Although skin tone differs based on a person's race, in general skin color is based on the amount of melanin in the skin. Skin color is affected by the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells that flow through the capillaries under the skin. Because of this, having pure white skin is difficult, but bihaku aims to bring the skin color as close to white as possible.

In Japan, the preference for skin that is white and free of blemishes and spots has been around for a long time. There is a proverb that says "The color white will hide the Seven Misfortunes. (For fair-skinned girls, although they may have unattractive spots, they don't stand out.)"

While yearning for whiteness as such was not new, it became a fad in mid-1990s, after when Suzuki Sonoko, an already successful "Diet Queen" started to promote the aesthetics of beautiful white, under the word "bihaku".^[1] Previously, skin care words that referred to melanin problems like "stain" and "freckles" were used.

An opposition to the term "bihaku" gradually grew amongst high school ganguro and gyaru.

Method

The popular method of bihaku is to use cosmetics that stop the production of melanin.

For skin whitening cosmetics for use by the public, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) has recognized a combination of active ingredients. These are mainly arbutin used in creams like Super Skin Lightener and kojic acid. Other ingredients include Vitamin C derivatives, tranexamic acid and ten-odd other types. In many of these active ingredients, an important enzyme called catechol oxidase is present, and it works either directly or indirectly to stop the creation of melanin.

As for other methods of skin whitening, other decolorizing chemicals are used. Aesthetic skin decolorizing surgeries are performed, but excessive cleansings can cause a number of problems, such as facial inflammation, but in the 2000s this is in decline. Historically, the droppings of the Japanese bush-warbler (uguisu (鴬^?)) has been used as an ingredient in face-washing for making the skin whiter.

Popularity

The Bihaku movement has been popular mainly among some middle-aged adult Japanese women while it is usually unpopular among young people such as teenagers. Among young people, it is often considered as a "nerdy culture" (根暗趣味), because of the stereotype that having pale skin means being a nerd।

MLE (Multi-Lamellar Emulsion)

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A. Lamellar structure of skin lipid
( * under electron microscopy )
B. Lamellar structure of MLE
( * under electron microscopy )
C. Maltese cross of skin lipid
( * under cross-polarized microscopy )
D. Maltese cross of MLE
( * cross-polarized microscopy )

MLE (Multi-Lamellar Emulsion) is an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion showing multi-lamellar structure and an original technology developed by NeoPharm in South Korea.

MLE is made with NeoPharm's proprietary pseudoceramide PC-9S. Lamellar structure, also observed in stratum corneum, is defined as a thin plate or membrane of skin lipids. MLE shows multiple layers of this lamellar structure, and as a moisturizer, MLE offers long-lasting skin moisturizing effects through reinforcing the skin's natural barrier function.^[1]

Under cross polarized microscopy, skin lipids and MLE show the similar cross-like structure, termed as Maltese cross structure, and under electron microscopy, lamellar structures are observed. Stratum corneum, as the outermost layer of skin, is responsible for the various barrier function of skin and protects our body from external harmful things.

Stratum corneum lipids are elaborately organized into lamellar structure, which plays the most important role for skin's barrier functions. Unlike the conventional moisturizers made with humectants or emollients, MLE can restore and improve the barrier function of skin, with its distinctive structural similarity to the native human skin's lamellar structure. Restoring the skin barrier function can improve skin hydration and protect skin from external irritants.

The efficacy of MLE on skin barrier was proven by several clinical studies performed in independent University Hospitals and reported in peer-reviewed academic journals, including Journal of Investigative Dermatology, one of the most renowned journals in the field of dermatology. Along with its therapeutic benefits, MLE also shows non-sticky textures, allowing quick absorption after application.^[1][2][3][4]

As an O/W emulsion, MLE can be also used as a vehicle (carrier) for topical drugs. The multiple layer of MLE offers stabilization of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and efficient penetration of API into skin.