Is taking collagen harmful to the kidneys and stomach?

Collagen plays an important role in maintaining the elasticity and firmness of the connective tissues in the body. Taking an oral collagen supplement is a really simple way to do this, but it has many important health and beauty benefits, especially in women. Besides, many people are still worried about whether taking collagen is bad for the kidneys and stomach?

Collagen is a special structural protein full of useful amino acids. In fact, collagen is the protein that makes up the majority of our bodies, helping to hold cells and tissues together. It is found in our bones, teeth, muscles, ligaments and skin. Collagen makes up 90% of connective tissue and bone mass, and makes up nearly 70% of the skin.
As we age, our body produces less collagen, leading to signs of aging: Wrinkles, sagging skin, weaker joints and bones,... Therefore, taking collagen supplements orally or from foods rich in collagen (such as bone broth, avocado, salmon, ...) is essential to compensate for the body's declining collagen levels as we age.

Oral collagens are mostly collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen is a hydrolyzed form of collagen, a fibrous protein present in the extracellular matrix, connective tissue and outer membranes of living cells. After hydrolysis, collagen loses its gelling ability and becomes soluble whether in hot or cold water. Collagen peptides have a low molecular weight and are much smaller so they are easier to digest and absorb.
Collagen peptide has a high content of amino acids, glycine, glutamine, proline and hydroxyproline 10-20 times higher than conventional proteins. Protein content can account for 90-97% of collagen peptides.

When taken orally, collagen peptide reaches the small intestine, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream, in the form of small collagen peptides and free amino acids. Through a network of blood vessels, these collagen peptides and free amino acids are distributed throughout the body and to the target tissue to perform their biological activity. In addition, the use of water-based collagen will result in better absorption than tablets and powders.

As functional foods, collagen peptides have been shown to have important physiological functions with positive health effects. Many studies have shown the effects of collagen peptides with improving skin elasticity, ensuring gastrointestinal health, restoring lost cartilage tissue, reducing activity-related joint pain, strengthening tendons and ligaments, increase lean mass in elderly men and premenopausal women, increase bone mineral density in postmenopausal women and protect the body from UVA radiation,...

Basically, our kidneys filter waste products, excess nutrients and fluids out of the blood in the urine. About 20% of the blood from the body's heart passes through the kidneys. In adults, the kidneys can filter up to 180 liters of blood per day. A test that measures how well the kidneys filter blood and remove waste products is called a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) test. The creatinine clearance rate is the volume of plasma that removes creatinine per unit time and is a useful measure of glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

According to a study published in 2005 in the London Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism on dietary protein intake and kidney function found:
There is no significant evidence of an adverse effect of High protein intake on renal function in healthy subjects over decades of Western high-protein diets. Although it has been shown that a high protein diet alters glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and related endocrinology may be harmful to patients with kidney disease, there is insufficient evidence of adverse effects in healthy subjects. Recently, a series of initial studies have been published on the prescribing of extremely high protein intake (
3.4 - 4.4 g/kg/day) and have consistently reported no effect. harmful, including the following key points:
Therefore, it is sufficient to conclude that:
In adults without kidney disease, high dietary protein intake may increase glomerular filtration rate (GFR), increase serum urea and urinary calcium excretion. However, it does not cause urinary albumin excretion, which is the most sensitive marker of kidney damage. These changes may be a normal physiological adaptation mechanism due to higher protein intake. (This conclusion was shared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2002 official report on Protein and Amino Acid Requirements in Human Nutrition.)
So is taking hydrolyzed collagen safe for the kidneys?
Most hydrolyzed collagen contains about 90 - 97% protein. Therefore, a high protein diet (>1.2 g/kg/day) or even extremely high doses of hydrolyzed collagen is unlikely to cause kidney damage in healthy subjects.

For people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), eating a lot of protein or taking high-protein supplements can lead to increased glomerular pressure and increased glomerular filtration rate. This can further damage the glomerular structure leading to or worsen chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, a low protein diet (LPD) of 0.6-0.8 g/kg/day is generally recommended for the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Conclusion: For people with chronic kidney disease or kidney disease, it is necessary to consider when eating or supplementing with protein-rich foods.

Some gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps have been reported with collagen ingestion in rare cases. Currently, there is no reliable enough evidence to confirm whether taking collagen is harmful to the stomach or not. But besides that, there are many benefits of using collagen for the stomach in particular and the digestive tract in general.
Since ages, people have known the effects of bone broth and gelatin in the treatment of digestive problems. However, it wasn't until recently that scientists discovered that, behind the nutritional power of these foods: It's collagen. The amino acid properties of collagen allow this particular protein to give you many amazing benefits, especially when it comes to gut health. These include helping to reduce intestinal inflammation, heal stomach ulcers, aid in digestion, and regulate stomach acid secretion.

Collagen has been found to play a role in regulating gastric secretion by ensuring the secretion of just the right amount of acid for good digestion. Collagen also prevents excess gastric juice thereby helping to prevent heartburn, heartburn, stomach ulcers and other digestive problems caused by too much acidity.

The two main amino acids in collagen peptides, Glycine and Proline, can help heal the stomach lining and prevent stress ulcers thanks to their positive effects on the central nervous system. Studies have determined that Glycine contained in collagen has the ability to block harmful gastric secretions, thereby effectively preventing gastric ulcers.

For gut health, Collagen helps the digestive process to take place better. Since collagen is a hydrophilic molecule, it has a strong attraction to water and acidic molecules. When collagen is ingested, the water and acid molecules of the stomach that surround it move through the intestinal tract, helping to better break down proteins and other carbohydrates in the intestines. With hydrophilic properties and water retention in the intestines, collagen helps the process of moving food in the intestines more smoothly.

Collagen is an important component in the repair and healing process of the intestinal lining. When there is damage or inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. New smooth muscle cells are created to heal damaged mucosa, scientists have discovered that the amount of collagen produced in the intestine is very large during the creation of smooth muscle cells. this new. Therefore, collagen is the main ingredient that helps heal damage to the lining of the intestinal wall and stomach.

Glutamine is an important amino acid in the composition of Collagen, which has been confirmed to play a role in preventing inflammation of the intestinal wall and supporting the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Studies have found digestive imbalances reduce serum collagen levels, specifically inflammatory bowel conditions. Thereby, collagen supplementation is the key to minimizing gastrointestinal diseases.

References: collagenx.com.au, healthcentral.com, kidney.org, furtherfood.com, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov