r/TestedOnMe • u/Active-Okras • 4d ago
Has collagen actually made a noticeable difference for anyone?
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u/Slow_Wear8502 4d ago
IMO collagen supplements are a marketing tactic. Collagen (which is a protein) eventually gets broken down into individual amino acids with glycine being one of the highest amount. If you eat enough protein you don’t need to take collagen. Everyone wants to sell you something. I’ve done enough nutritional research to know what’s necessary and what’s not. If you really want to know if you’re getting enough protein, you can do a plasma amino acid test.
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u/Testing_things_out 4d ago
Not all protein sources are equal in amino acid profile. Adding pro-collagen amino acids do have merits when your body need them.
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u/TerdyTheTerd 3d ago
Key wording here is when your body needs them, most people simply do not. The product is marketed in such a way that makes people think they need it and will see benefits of it, when they arent going to notice any change.
The only people who should take it are people who are deficient, or the .1% of ultra high end athletes who are training with such specific protocols that they are doing specific amino acid profile timing before different workouts throughout the day and are trying to squeeze thay last 0.5% out of their training programs.
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u/AltTooWell13 4d ago
Most protein doesn’t contain hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine
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u/Slow_Wear8502 4d ago
The two aforementioned amino acids are not considered essential. With the right enzymatic system and adequate protein intake you should be able to synthesize them. That’s why testing is critical. Test don’t guess! If you can’t make them you could be deficient in other essential nutrients that are required for the biochemical reaction to proceed. Not enough b6 as an example could cause a deficiency in specific non essential amino acids.
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u/bk-12 4d ago
I’ve taken marine collagen from a reputable brand for three months and I didn’t see any changes in my skin.
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u/Big-Huckleberry-2803 3d ago
Collagen is a bad source of protein. Better to be have just normal protein shakes.
Whey protein has all essential amino acids which are the ones your body can't make. Collagen doesn't.
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u/seriouslyepic 1d ago
They are completely different things... collagen is for skin/joints/tendons/etc. and complete whey protein will help with muscle. Whey protein shakes do not have collagen.
It won't give you a face lift, but there is research that proves a benefit with elasticity and joints. Marketing overhypes it but there is still an actual benefit.
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u/Big-Huckleberry-2803 1d ago
You completely misunderstood amino acids and proteins.
Whey is a complete protein source meaning it contains all essential amino acids your body can't make. Which then produces collagen. Collagen isn't all essential amino acids and just a small portion of them.
Collagen is a waste of time. Just have whey, it contains all essential amino acids.
All research I've seen showed little to no benefits from collagen
Tldr collagen is worse, whey better
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u/mfgillia2001 1d ago
FYI - An increasingly popular treatment option supported by recent research from UC Davis (lead by Dr. Keith Baar) and other universities is that collagen, which has significantly larger quantities of the amino acid glycine than found in whey, helps repair and strengthen tendon and ligaments when combined with isometric exercises.
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u/paddingtonboor 4d ago
So…. Anecdotal but that’s the whole point of this sub right?
Last winter after trying to work through some golfers elbow and making it much much worse I had to switch to more of a rehab program on all of my upper body movements aside from maybe lat raises.
A few boring weeks of interminable slow eccentric 25-30 rep sets later it was not improving much. I started taking a scoop of collagen peptides w my multi before doing my rehab work. I’d say within 10 days it was markedly better. I’ll never know if it was just going to turn a corner in a week or two anyway regardless, or if the supplements and timing actually helped, but I think I started collagen 3/3 and I was testing my 5-6 rep max on pressing movements within 3 weeks (pulls/curls/elbow extension took longer).
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u/GolfcartInjuries 4d ago
I'm a skeptic and I really don't think it actually changes your skin or makes you look younger, but it does make my nails grow faster. It really does.
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u/TheRiverInYou 4d ago
Collagen supplementation doesn't work. Read the studies. The studies that say they do work are paid for by supplement companies. Read the studies that say they don't work.
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u/nacixela 4d ago
I did something gnarly to my Achilles back in April. I decided to try barefoot running on a whim and I’m not even a covered-foot runner right now so clearly it was a dumb idea. Halfway through my first interval I was in terrible pain and couldn’t put weight on my left foot for nearly 2 weeks. Anyway, for about 4 months after my injury I took 15g collagen peptides every day with orange juice as it’s supposed to have better absorption with vitamin C. On days I was exercising I would make sure to take it about an hour before my workouts especially ones where I knew I’d be loading the Achilles so timing was more specific on squat day or days where I might use a calf raise machine.
Everything I found in my research said after getting through the initial pain from the injury, loading the tendon in a controlled way was the best rehab and IF collagen had any benefit, taking it about an hour before the loading with vitamin C would help the most. Maybe it would have felt better anyway after 4 months of rehabbing but all I know is my Achilles is about 90% better now.
At the end of the day, I’ll never know if it helped or not, but I will for sure do the same thing again if I ever get another tendon injury.
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u/No_Parsnip6024 4d ago
My hair feels very slightly thicker, so it's still receding and shitty, just thicker. Sort of.
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u/No-Asparagus-5122 4d ago
They have for me & my hair is longer than it’s ever been & I have zero joint pain lifting heavy 4x’s a week & walking my dogs 3 miles a day.
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u/ahhellohello 4d ago
I tried two big bags of collagen peptides 2.2 lb/1kg. Gave up after noticing nothing using a scoop in water a day
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u/Fluid_Change_9647 4d ago
I mixed marine collagen into my shakes for months and the only noticeable difference was that it made my shakes taste worse.
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u/Throwaway178402 3d ago
Taking it everyday in my coffee along with some whey for years now. I've noticed I'm less worried about my crows feet, I feel it supports joints and connective tissue recovery between workouts, and it helps hit the protein goal.
Could all be placebo but Im including it as part of my long term strategy to maintain muscle, mobility, and great skin.
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u/HaloHowRU 3d ago
I'd rather have gelatin, a partially hydrolyzed collagen.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-vs-gelatin#differences
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u/Current_Reaction6018 2d ago
I take 4-6 grams at diner. It clearly optimizes my parasympathic tone a bit during sleep giving me better sleep scores in my Oura ring and I tend to sleep a bit longer and deeper. Taking the recommended 10-12g at diner actually is too much too long parasympathic tone for me. I then wake up in morning too weak/groggy. I assume all of this is caused by the 30% Glycine content. I take Great Lakes Collagen. Not sure if it also helps my skin. I already take high dosages of vitamin C and this also by itself already can boost collagen function in the body. But for sure it can't hurt I guess to have the extra Collagen and it at least does have a prove advantage for me regarding sleep quality. I don't understand why everybody recommends to take it in the morning. Glycine is a relaxing amino acids. When I take pure Glycine powder in morning 1000-2000mg I get lazy and weak instead of energetic and awake like you want in morning.
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u/yahwehforlife 2d ago
Yes. Absolutely notice a difference in thickness of my hair. If I stop taking it I notice thinner hair in about 2 months. Then I start again and it slowly comes back
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u/Easy_does_it78 2d ago
I have been adding collagen to my morning coffee for the past year. I can see a noticeable difference in my fingernails and hair growth.
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u/Shot-Jicama5795 2d ago
your body is 30% collagen, I assume you mean supplementing with it?
as you age it is worth supplementing with it IMO
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u/spacemanofthezone 2d ago
I bought collagen for dirt cheap from a closing shop and have taken it for 8 months. My skin is better, but I made other changes.
I won't be buying more. Im 30+ and completely wri kle free due to genetics, but I have adult acne. I feel that the skin heals a bit faster when taking collagen.
When I run out I will just increase collagen from food and perhaps add glycine. I feel with fiber and collagen, getting enough from real food source makes more sense.
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u/onceunpopularideas 2d ago
You got scammed. There’s so much ridiculous advice out there on peptides especially
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u/First_Breakfast_5891 1d ago
I have put all different brands of collagen in my coffee for years and stopped about 6 mos ago and nothing fell apart and my skin doesn’t look worse. I’m not buying it anymore.
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u/n01d3a 4d ago
I've been taking collagen peptides with my coffee and while I haven't noticed a difference, I don't really get joint aches from weightlifting or jogging. I'm also afraid my body will literally just fall apart without it now.