An Unexpected Way To Ease Inflammation In The Gut

There are so many ways to take care of your gut and even more reasons to make it a priority. From digestion to mental health to even skin health, your gut plays a critical role in many processes in the body. 

Earlier this year, a two-phase clinical study1 researched the effect of a daily collagen supplement on key aspects of digestive health. You can check out the full breakdown here for a deep dive into the study's process and detailed results. Otherwise, keep reading for a quick summary. 

In the study, 40 healthy women took 20 grams of bovine collagen peptides each day, split into two servings. The results? After eight weeks of collagen supplementation, 93% (13 out of 14 women) of those who completed the study experienced noteworthy improvements in digestion, including bloating and abdominal comfort.

Potential explanations for this change in bowel movement frequency could be a shift in the gut microbiome composition because of the increased protein load, or simply because of an increase in water consumption (or some other exciting mechanism, so TBD!). This particular area of research is young, so more studies will help us really understand how collagen supplementation might assist with laxation (aka, poops). 

Also worth noting: The research behind collagen supplements most often involves hydrolyzed bovine peptides, including the studies done on collagen's digestion impact. For that reason, these findings can't be applied to marine collagen quite yet. 

Some collagen supplements even include L-glutamine, an ingredient best known for aiding in workout recovery. L-glutamine supplementation can help regulate the growth of intestinal cells, maintain the gut's tight junctions2, influence inflammatory cascades, and protect against cell death and stresses—all of which are great for folks with sensitive digestive systems.