Best Collagen Supplements for Menopause Symptoms Relief in 2023

The Benefits of Collagen for Menopausal Women

Collagen supplements have become increasingly popular in recent years for their various health and anti-aging benefits. As women go through menopause, their bodies' natural collagen production declines rapidly. This often leads to common menopausal symptoms like joint pain, sagging skin, hair thinning, and loss of muscle mass. Taking a collagen supplement can help offset this natural decline in collagen levels and provide menopausal relief for many women. Let's take a closer look at how collagen benefits menopausal women.

Combats Joint Pain and Arthritis

As women age and go through menopause, the collagen in their body depletes over time. This loss of collagen correlates directly with increasing joint pain and arthritis. Studies have found that collagen supplements can significantly reduce inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis. The collagen works to repair damage to cartilage and tendons, acting as a cushion in the joints and preventing painful bone-on-bone friction.

Reduces Skin Aging

Collagen is essential for keeping skin looking youthful and wrinkle-free. During menopause, women's bodies produce less and less collagen, leading to sagging skin, wrinkles, and cellulite. Collagen supplements containing peptides like proline and glycine have been shown to increase skin elasticity and hydration in postmenopausal women. Taking collagen can help stimulate your body's natural collagen production to lift, firm and plump up the skin for a more youthful complexion.

Strengthens Hair and Nails

Hair thinning and brittle nails afflict many women undergoing menopause due to plummeting estrogen levels. Collagen supplements can strengthen hair follicles and stimulate hair growth cycles. The amino acids in collagen also support strong nail growth by increasing nail thickness and resistance to breakage. Ingesting collagen is an easy way to nourish hair and nails from within during menopause.

Supports Weight Loss

Gaining abdominal weight is very common during menopause, partly due to the loss of collagen which gives skin its elasticity. Research shows that taking collagen supplements may help stimulate metabolism and reduce fat mass. The proteins specific to collagen supplementation increase satiety after meals, supporting weight loss. Taking collagen may also convert "bad" white adipose tissue into "good" brown adipose tissue that burns fat.

Improves Metabolism

Many women find they have a sluggish metabolism after menopause. Collagen supplements can help give your metabolism a boost by helping your body synthesize proteins and manufacture energy in cells. Amino acids like glycine and proline found abundantly in collagen also play important roles in fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Enhancing your metabolism with a collagen supplement promotes healthy weight maintenance.

Eases Anxiety and Depression

Menopause often brings with it increased anxiety, depression and sleep issues due to hormone fluctuations. Interestingly, collagen features amino acids like tryptophan and threonine that support the production of serotonin, dopamine and other "feel good" neurotransmitters in the brain. Taking collagen supplements may help improve mood, emotional well-being and sleep quality in menopausal women.

Choosing the Best Collagen Supplements for Menopause

If you're considering adding a collagen supplement to your diet to manage menopausal symptoms, there are a few key factors to keep in mind when comparing different products:

Type of Collagen

Collagen supplements typically contain one or more of the following types:

• Type I: Most abundant in the human body; found in bones, skin, tendons and ligaments
• Type II: Supports joint health especially in cartilage
• Type III: Forms connective tissues throughout the body
• Type V: Found alongside Type I; important for hair, skin and placenta health

Look for a collagen supplement that contains a combination of Types I, II, III and V to target the full range of menopause symptoms.

Collagen Peptides vs Powder

Collagen supplements come in powder form or as collagen peptides (also called hydrolyzed collagen). Collagen peptides have gone through an enzymatic process to break the long protein chains down into small peptides that are more easily absorbed in the digestive system.

Collagen peptides are the best choice for supporting menopause as they have superior bioavailability over powders. Make sure the supplement label specifies "hydrolyzed collagen peptides".

Marine vs Bovine Collagen Source

You'll also need to decide on the source of the collagen. Marine collagen comes from fish skin or scales while bovine collagen comes from cow hides. Marine collagen may be absorbed slightly better. However, bovine collagen has a more complete amino acid profile.

A collagen supplement that combines both marine and bovine collagen will give you the highest quality. Vegetable collagen supplements are also available for those avoiding animal products but may not provide all the same benefits.

Organic and Sustainably Sourced

Opt for brands that source collagen sustainably and certify their products are organic. Overfishing threatens marine collagen sources such as codfish. Look for supplements made from invasive or farmed fish species. Grass-fed and free-range bovine collagen ensures healthier cattle.

Added Vitamins and Minerals

Some collagen supplements also include complementary vitamins, herbs and minerals. Vitamin C boosts your body's collagen production while hyaluronic acid promotes hydration. Silica, zinc, manganese and copper also support collagen formation. Choosing a supplement with these added ingredients provides maximum anti-aging benefits.

How to Take Collagen Supplements

The standard recommended collagen dosage is around 10-15 grams per day. Most supplements come in powder or capsule form for easy consumption:

• Collagen powders can be stirred into hot or cold beverages, baked goods, oatmeal or yogurt
• Collagen capsules can be taken with a glass of water, two to three times per day

Take your collagen supplement consistently for at least three months in order to see results. It's safe to take collagen long term. In fact, ongoing collagen supplementation is ideal for maintaining its anti-aging, joint, hair and nail benefits.

Look for collagen peptides derived from grass-fed beef, wild fish and organic poultry for optimal quality. Be patient, as it may take 6-8 weeks to see collagen's effects begin to manifest. But over time, consistently taking the right collagen supplement will help counteract the natural depletion of collagen levels during menopause.

The Bottom Line on Collagen for Menopause

Collagen supplements provide a wide range of promising benefits for women going through menopause. As your body's supply of collagen drops, supplementing with collagen powder or peptides can help keep your bones, joints, skin, hair and nails healthy and youthful. There are also positive impacts on mood, metabolism and weight management. Choosing an organic, hydrolyzed collagen peptides product sourced from multiple types of collagen delivers optimal effects for addressing common menopausal issues.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.