Different Collagens position in the human body
Collagen, a familiar and slightly unfamiliar term that is often mentioned in our lives, is often confusing. There are so many different types of collagen that it is difficult for people to differentiate between their respective characteristics and functions. In fact, the concept of “anti-aging” is closely related to collagen, as its content and integrity have a direct impact on the age of the skin. In other words, a healthy collagen status means more youthful and beautiful skin. However, when we are asked about the various types of collagen and their specific roles, we seem to be left in a state of confusion. Therefore, this article aims to shed light on what each type of collagen really is and help us better understand this key beauty ingredient.
Collagen, a biological polymer, plays a crucial role in binding tissues in animal cells. Not only is it an extracellular protein, it is a spiral, fibrous protein carefully twisted into 3 peptide chains. In the human body, collagen is extremely rich, occupying more than 30% of the total protein in the whole body. Notably, it is also rich in glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and many other essential amino acids.
There are many types of collagen, but there are five main types that occupy an important position in the human body
They are:
Type I: widely found in the skin, tendons, vascular system, organs, and bones, and is a key component of the organic parts of the skeleton.
Type II: mainly constitutes cartilage and is essential for joint health.
Type III: Often found alongside type I collagen and is a major component of reticular fibers.
Type IV: Closely associated with the form basal lamina and involved in the composition of the epithelial secretory layer.
Type V: Distributed on the cell surface, it is closely associated with the health of hair and the formation of the placenta.
Next, we will focus on two important types of collagen in the human body - Type I and Type III.
Type I collagen is widely distributed in the body and is found mainly in skin, tendons, ligaments, joints, and bone tissue. It makes up the extracellular matrix meshwork, making it the collagen type with the highest percentage in the dermis. Because of this, type I and type III collagen are widely used in the cosmetic industry. Among them, type I collagen plays a key role in supporting the hardness of the skin and maintaining the firmness of the skin with its thick and solid characteristics.
Type III collagen, on the other hand, is mainly found in infant skin, the lining of blood vessels, and the intestinal tract. It is fine and elastic and has a significant impact on skin elasticity and scar healing. As we age, the decrease in type III collagen leads to a gradual loss of skin elasticity, which in turn accelerates the skin aging process.
The total amount of collagen in the body decreases with age, with type III collagen declining after birth and being unable to synthesize on its own. This phenomenon is particularly evident in infant skin, where up to 80% of collagen type III is present. However, as they grow and develop, this precious type III collagen decreases, which is why it is also affectionately known as “baby collagen”. In women, for example, since the age of 20, the phenomenon of collagen loss will quietly begin, to the age of 25 is to enter the peak of the loss. By the age of 40, the collagen content is only half of what it was at the age of 18. If not properly replenished, the skin will gradually show signs of aging such as dryness and fine lines.
Therefore, in order to maintain the skin's delicacy and elasticity, and to preserve its youthful appearance, it is especially important to remodel the body's type III collagen through exogenous direct supplementation. Although there are various ways to synthesize type III collagen, it is crucial to choose the appropriate method for supplementation.
1. Animal tissues
These tissues, such as bovine, porcine, and rat tail tendons, as well as extracts from marine organisms, are important sources for obtaining type III collagen. However, these methods face potential problems such as immune reactions and viral risks.
2、Collagen prepared by recombinant technology
Recombinant collagen-like proteins with similar amino acid sequences to natural collagen can be artificially synthesized through genetic engineering and recombinant technology. However, such synthetic collagen often lacks the helical structure unique to natural collagen in its structure, resulting in differences in its biological properties and natural collagen.
3、Recombinant humanized collagen
The amino acid sequence of humanized collagen is identical to the specific functional region of human collagen, which makes it able to accurately reproduce the function of collagen.
Compared to traditional collagen preparation methods, recombinant humanized type III collagen adopts innovative genetically engineered DNA recombination technology. This technology is designed based on the genetic sequence of the body's natural type III collagen to biosynthesize active collagen with a stable and well-defined triple-helical structure. This collagen is 100% homologous to the human body and exhibits excellent repair capabilities.
As a result, research has focused on the use of biosynthesis to produce non-immunogenic collagen, and the use of recombinant technology to synthesize humanized collagen with the same amino acid sequence as the functional region of the human collagen molecule is becoming a new trend in the future development of the industry.
Therefore, if you want your skin to maintain its youthfulness, it is important to take regular Type III collagen supplements.
