The Science
Collagen is a structural protein found throughout the body. It provides mechanical stability, elasticity, and strength to tissues and organs. The human body has 28 types of collagen.
The top three types of collagen in the body are:
- Type 1 – which is the most abundant and makes up about 90% of the body’s total collagen. This type provide structure to the body including the skin, connective tissue, tendons, teeth and bones
- Type 2 – is found in cartilage around the joints
- Type 3 – has a structural role and supports the muscles, organs and arteries
The two most abundant forms which provide the majority of structural support to the body are Type I and Type 3.
The relationship between collagen and histamine is still not very well known.
It seems ironic that the people who need collagen support the most--those with diminished collagen production due primarily to aging, genetics, environmental stressors, poor diet, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, and excessive stress-- are also the most likely to have issues with histamine overload. Well, it actually makes sense once you learn a few basics about the science of collagen and histamine:
1) Histamine is released by mast cells (the scientific word for this process is “degranulation”) as part of the body's defence against trauma or invaders.
2) Oral intake of histidine readily converts to histamine in the body.
3) Histamine signals mast cells to release more histamine. Even a bit of histamine floating around can trigger a chain-reaction of nearby mast cells to also release their histamine. (An analogy: Mast cells see "troops" gathering and respond by sending their troops to support the cause.)
4) Mast cells reside in the interwoven strands of collagen.
5) When collagen gets the microtears of daily life, it irritates or ruptures the mast cells that were in residence near the microtear.
6) An irritated mast cell more readily bursts and spews its contents (namely, histamine, and a few other inflammatory agents).
7) This creates local inflammation, which becomes chronic if repeated regularly. And, since collagen and mast cells reside side by side, collagen gets the brunt of the damage caused by the chronic inflammation (or chronic release of histamine), resulting in...
8) A vicious cycle, as we now have further weakening and damage to collagen which is then more prone to new microtears...causing nearby mast cells to release more histamine.
To break this cycle, we need to support our collagen without degrading our collagen with inflammatory agents (namely, histidine/histamine) in the process. This is exactly why we’ve made Collagen Boost Histamine-Free.
Welcome to feeling better!