When you introduce a new supplement into your routine, it’s only natural to expect outcomes. But how quickly do those effects show up? That can certainly take some patience. The same goes when you begin taking collagen supplements.

Now, there are certain things that you should see right away—we’ll get to that shortly—but for the full advantages, it may take anywhere from two to eight weeks to begin seeing the results! 

In this article, we’ll go through why you may want to take a collagen supplement, how long it takes for each disease-specific area to manifest changes, and the various variables that can impact those timings.

Why take collagen? 

Many people and experts cite a number of reasons for taking collagen supplements on a daily basis. Perhaps you’ve heard some of the following, which have piqued your interest in the supplement—and maybe even brought you here.

Collagen is a protein that is naturally present in many parts of the body, including the skin, muscles, joints, and gut. It’s a fibrous, protein-rich structural substance present in connective tissues that gives our skin its suppleness, elasticity, and strength, which makes sense as collagen can be found in the dermis of human skin. 

Collagen types I through III are the most frequent, although there are 28 different types of collagen known so far! Each type targets certain areas of the body and will offer different benefits. Depending on what outcome you’re hoping for, be sure to read all the packaging and be sure your supplement contains the type of collagen you’ll need. 

Collagen is the most plentiful protein in the human body, and it’s highly essential for many areas of the body. Some people might be concerned about how long they should wait to see any benefits from taking collagen supplements, which we’ll go into more detail later. 

What actually is collagen?

Collagen can be found all throughout our bodies, including the gastrointestinal tract, muscles, bones, skin, tendons, and even internal organs.

Although we can create collagen on our own, the rate at which we make it decreases as we age, resulting in the dreaded side effects of getting older including sagging skin and wrinkles.

In reality, it’s believed that the majority of people generate 1% less collagen each year after they reach age 20. As a result, beginning to take a collagen supplement as soon as possible is recommended.

What are the benefits of collagen?

In the following section, we’ll go through some of the advantages of taking a collagen supplement on a daily basis.

One of the most impressive benefits of collagen is its ability to improve skin health. Collagen is a major component of our skin, and as we age, our bodies produce less and less of it. This results in wrinkles, sagging skin, and an overall loss of elasticity. Taking a collagen supplement can help to replenish these lost levels, resulting in a more youthful appearance.

There are also many benefits of collagen for the joints. Collagen is a major component of cartilage, and as we age, our bodies produce less and less of it. This can lead to joint pain and stiffness. Taking a collagen supplement can help to replenish these lost levels, resulting in increased joint mobility and reduced pain.

Another benefit of collagen is that it can help to improve gut health. Collagen is a major component of the lining of the digestive tract, and as we age, our bodies produce less and less of it. This can lead to a variety of gut issues, such as leaky gut syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. Taking a collagen supplement can help to replenish these lost levels, resulting in improved gut health.

Although collagen adds to our beauty and beauty routine, it also performs a variety of other functions. People who suffer from joint discomfort have seen significant advantages as a result of collagen use. It has even been suggested that it might help with gut health and the immune system’s functionality.

How does our body break down collagen?

Before we get into how long it takes for collagen to work, let’s take a quick look at the science behind how we digest, absorb, and metabolize collagen.

Collagen is made of a chain of amino acids, much like other proteins. A peptide is a term for this connection. When we eat protein, our stomach produces hydrochloric acid digestive enzymes – especially pancreatic proteases. The protein is broken down into amino acids and smaller peptide chains by these enzymes. Once they’re in the small intestine, they become absorbed into circulation and travel to the bloodstream via the portal vein.

When we eat animal-derived collagen, we don’t absorb as much of it into our bodies because we have to work harder to break down and digest this protein. Collagen peptides that are taken as supplements are more bioavailable and easier for the body to utilize since they are essentially a pre-digested form of collagen.

How long does it take to see results with collagen?

When collagen peptides are absorbed into the circulation, our bodies can utilize this collagen rapidly – even in less than an hour, collagen peptides may start working their magic in our cells.

The speed of collagen action is affected by your current collagen levels. If you have exceptionally low levels, you may notice a bigger difference after taking it for some time.

Furthermore, if you have a high collagen status, you may not notice as great of an impact. The sooner you’ll notice a difference, the lower your collagen levels will be.

It might take a few weeks longer for you to notice an improvement if you’re using collagen to treat joint discomfort, gut issues, or other digestive problems. This is because collagen helps to rebuild and strengthen these areas, and it can take a little bit of time for the supplements to fully take effect.

There are several factors to how long it will take to notice results of your collagen supplements. These include: 

Depends on how much you take 

The amount of collagen protein in foods affects their effect. Collagen peptide supplements, too, are regulated by the dosage.

Collagen is a necessary component of the body’s structure. Because it’s the most abundant protein in the human body, we require it in numerous locations to achieve optimal health.

If you have a lot of collagen and little amounts of collagen, you should see an improvement promptly. However, if you only take collagen peptides once in a while or even just half of the advised amount, there’s simply no way that they would have an effect.

Age is a factor

As we grow older, our bodies begin to produce less collagen naturally. This decrease in collagen is one of the reasons why our skin sags and why we develop joint pain as we age.

Age is one of the key elements that influence collagen supplements’ success. Your body makes a lot of collagen when you’re young. If you start taking a collagen supplement before the age of 20, you will not notice any significant improvement. After all, you’re only producing what you need.

However, if you have a medical condition or an auto-immune disease that inhibits collagen formation, this may not be the case. Consult with your doctor to determine whether collagen supplements are appropriate for you if this is the case.

On the other hand, when our body’s collagen production begins to fall, you’re more likely to notice a benefit from collagen supplements.

Create a healthy diet for ideal results 

Be sure to take into account the importance of a well-balanced, whole-foods diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats.

Collagen peptides are a fantastic addition to a balanced diet for improving healthy skin, hair, and nails while also promoting strong joints and a robust immune system. The keyword here is addition. Be sure you’re not relying fully on the collagen peptides to keep you healthy, you still need to be aware of what else you’re putting into your body.

The jury is still out on the effects of consuming collagen. Although it has been shown to reduce joint pain and inflammation, collagen supplements may not fulfill all of your body’s needs if you are deficient in other nutrients. Collagen can only do so much if your diet is lacking in other areas.

Reduce your use of refined flours, oils, and sugars, as well as sodium and processed foods. These can harm your skin’s health, gut health, immune health, and inflammation.

In Conclusion

Collagen supplements are used by many people to improve their skin, hair, nails, digestion, and other bodily functions. There’s evidence that consuming collagen peptides—particularly those that are well-absorbed by the body—may be beneficial.

The effectiveness of collagen supplements is determined by a variety of variables, including age, amount, diet and lifestyle, and individual collagen requirements.

In general, 10 grams of collagen peptides per day for 4-12 weeks is beneficial to most people. However, keep in mind that this will differ from person to person.

Finally, keep in mind that a healthy, balanced diet rich in whole foods is the greatest way to get the most out of your collagen supplement.

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