The benefits of marine collagen and biotin supplements for the skin, hair and nails.

Unfortunately, as we age, the collagen structures in our skin begin to weaken. This contributes to a loss of skin elasticity and skin hydration, in turn leading to wrinkles, sagging skin and fine lines – the hallmarks of ageing skin. To combat the decline in collagen levels in our bodies, many people choose to supplement with collagen to replenish what has been lost. Marine collagen from fish is a popular choice for addressing skin concerns because it is the most similar to human skin in terms of collagen composition and structure.

Another popular food supplement ingredient is biotin (vitamin B7). This essential vitamin can only be sourced from food, and deficiencies can lead to impaired hair growth. Many seek to avoid this deficiency, so they choose to take a biotin food supplement.

This article will cover the benefits of taking a biotin supplement and the benefits of taking a marine collagen supplement. You will also learn about the possible function of biotin and marine collagen when taken together in one supplement. Finally, you will discover the benefits of a marine collagen complex supplement, which can support hair, skin and nail health in multiple ways.

The benefits of biotin supplements

We need to get many nutrients from our diet as the body doesn’t produce them naturally; one of these nutrients is biotin. Biotin is an essential vitamin involved in many metabolic processes in the body. It is crucial for generating carbohydrates from our energy stores, and it is involved in producing amino acids. We must get nine amino acids from our diet; however, the remaining 11 can be produced by the body and biotin is involved in this process.

When we are deficient in biotin, it can affect the body in a multitude of ways, however, one way in which this deficiency manifests is in the hair and nails. Biotin deficient individuals may experience brittle nails or slow hair growth. In fact, 38% of women complaining of hair loss had a biotin deficiency.

Biotin supplementation can support the hair of individuals with a deficiency. However, there is limited evidence to suggest that the vitamin is particularly effective in healthy, non-deficient individuals.

The benefits of marine collagen

Many people choose to supplement with marine collagen for the potential benefits for the skin. Marine collagen is classed as type I collagen for its high proportion of type I collagen fibres. Coincidentally, human skin also consists of primarily type I fibres. For this reason, marine collagen is believed to be more bioavailable than bovine collagen, for example.

Marine collagen peptide supplements contain fragments of collagen fibres which are more easily absorbed into the body. The amino acids may be more rapidly utilised to build our own proteins. It has been shown that collagen peptides stimulate collagen formation, suggesting that marine collagen peptide supplementation may prove beneficial in supporting healthy skin as we lose collagen over time.

Additionally, when supplementing with marine collagen, the body is provided with amino acids that can be used to build other proteins in the body, including keratin, which makes up the majority of our hair and nails.

Taking marine collagen and biotin together

As we have explored, there are many benefits to supplementing with marine collagen and biotin for the hair and nails. However, there may be additional benefits to choosing a supplement containing both ingredients.

Firstly, hydrolysed marine collagen may be able to stimulate collagen production, and this may help to maintain the collagen matrix that is found in the dermis layer of the skin – this is also where the hair follicles lie. Reinforcing the dermis layer with collagen supplements may have a beneficial effect on the hair. Furthermore, with added biotin, users can increase nutrient levels to decrease the risk of a deficiency that may affect the hair.

Secondly, collagen, the abundant protein found in the skin, and keratin, the abundant protein found in the hair and nails, have some cross-over in amino acid composition. This means that the amino acids from collagen supplementation may go on to be synthesised into keratin protein to support the hair and nails.

Finally, collagen has a simple primary structure; it is made up of just three different amino acids – Glycine, Lysine and Proline - only one of which is an essential amino acid. This means that to produce new collagen, non-essential amino acids can be synthesised (with the help of biotin). In contrast, essential amino acids need to be obtained through diet, in this case through collagen supplementation. As a result, biotin, combined with marine collagen supplements, could prove beneficial for supporting normal collagen formation in the body as we age.

Marine collagen complex supplements

When looking for the best collagen supplement, it is essential to consider more than just marine collagen. As we have discussed, it may be beneficial to supplement with both marine collagen and biotin, especially if your primary goal is supporting the hair and skin. However, there are additional combinations that are worth considering. Collagen works synergistically with vitamin C; in fact, collagen synthesis relies on vitamin C. Another beneficial ingredient to pair with marine collagen is hyaluronic acid. As we age, we lose hyaluronic acid, which can lead to skin dryness and a loss of plumpness. So, by pairing hyaluronic acid with marine collagen, the two ingredients can work together in helping to maintain normal skin hydration, elasticity and firmness. Selenium and Copper, on the other hand, are important in maintaining normal hair and nails and hair pigmentation, respectively.

Beauty complex offers a multi-nutrient approach to marine collagen supplementation. Our marine collagen powder supplement contains a high dosage of marine collagen peptides paired with biotin, vitamin C, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, selenium, Copper and phytoceramides. This supplement has been scientifically formulated to effectively deliver eight active ingredients known to support the skin, hair and nails. Furthermore, Beauty Complex sachets are designed for total convenience day after day.

Sources

1. Synthesis and structure of collagen in skin
2. Cosmetic Potential of Marine Fish Skin Collagen
3. A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss
4. Importance of biotin metabolism
5. Biotin
6. Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging

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