With the increase in popularity of collagen supplements over the past few years, the market has been flooded with products of all shapes, sizes and price points. The question is, especially considering the widely reported rise in the cost of living, whether collagen supplements are worth the expense, and what you can expect to spend.
Why should you be taking collagen?
Collagen is one of the most prevalent proteins in the human body, and helps to maintain the proper function, health and structure of organs throughout the body notably including the skin. Collagen decline is unfortunately a natural part of the ageing process, with a falloff in production beginning around thirty years old and increasing over time. This, in turn, can lead to symptoms such as wrinkling and sagging of the skin, joint pain and decreased metabolism. Supplementation has been identified as an effective method of boosting and restoring collagen levels, which can in turn offset many of these side effects. Over the past few years as collagen supplements have become more popular and more widely researched, studies have suggested several benefits of increasing and maintaining collagen levels in the body, including:
- Skin hydration and elasticity
- Thicker, healthier hair and nails
- Mild relief for osteoarthritis pain
- Increased muscles mass
- Improved heart health
While some of these benefits are more common than others, skin health for example, there is good scientific evidence for all of them, underlining the potential importance of collagen to a healthy lifestyle. We strongly recommend incorporating collagen supplementation into your routine considering the wide array of health benefits.
How long does it take collagen to work?
As with any dietary change or supplement, patience is advised when it comes to taking collagen. Unfortunately for those of us looking for instant results, there really is no such thing as a miracle product.
In order to give you an idea of how quickly you might expect to see results in different areas, we have summarised the most recent research to provide a timeframe:
- Skin health, hydration and elasticity: 4-12 weeks
- Muscle mass and strength (when combined with a training schedule): 3 months
- Pain relief after exercise: within a few days
- Joint health: 4 to 6 months
- Tendon support (combined with strengthening exercises): 3-6 months
- Bone-density support: 12 months
- Hair: 4-12 weeks
- Nails: 24 weeks
As you can see, while the effectiveness over time is closely related to your own desired results, it will take at least a month before you can expect to see any real benefits.
The best way to take collagen
We have discussed in detail the pros and cons of different forms of collagen supplements elsewhere, but we’ve included a brief primer here for reference:
- Liquid collagen – collagen in pre-made drink form, including a liquid component such as purified water, or sometimes included in smoothies or juices. These are very convenient and easy to take, with no need for multiple containers, mixing, or messy powder residue. This makes them ideal for everyday use and taking when on the go, as you simply need to take one bottle with you. Although it can be difficult to find liquid collagen which includes an effective dose, look for high-strength collagen, as there are some liquid collagens that offer up to 10,000MG.
- Collagen tablets – A small, mess free option that has the potential to be taken on the move, kept in a bag or a pocket and used at any time throughout the day. It is however, very difficult to create a tablet which contains enough collagen to be effective.
- Collagen powder – Not always the most convenient form, mixing and dissolving doses on the go will not always be possible. Crucially, you have the necessary control over your dosage to guarantee the desired effect.
- Collagen sachets – sachets, effectively pre-made collagen ‘shots’ are again convenient, portable and versatile. Sometimes include unwanted additives to make the product more palatable, and generally have an environmental impact due to the large amount of packaging that often can’t be recycled.
- Collagen creams and serums – topical treatments, such as creams and serums, are great for if you want to boost collagen and hydrate your skin, in particular if you’re looking to target the face. Collagen creams with added benefits like SPF and hyaluronic acid are also a great for daily use to reap the added benefits.
- Collagen masks – Similar to topical treatments, collagen face masks are just a more concentrated form of using a collagen cream. Great for boosting hydration to really tired or dry skin, and nice for if you fancy a little pamper!
How much does collagen cost?
The best way to think of the cost of collagen is to consider the price-per-serving. If you consider that an effective dose, generally considered to be somewhere between 2.5-15g depending on the form or concentration of the product itself. Logically, the price of the product overall will relate to the form of the supplement, the ingredients included and the size of the container, but the important thing to consider is the price-per-serving.
To take a hypothetical example, a 500g tub of collagen powder may well be costly up front, but if that tub contains 100 doses then it may well be worth it in the medium term. If you work out the milligram of collagen you get compared to the price too, you can work out the best price product. With this in mind, make sure to find a product that is cost effective to meet your budget.
The other thing that is important to consider when pricing up the right supplement for you, is that collagen supplementation takes a number of weeks to be effective, and the longer and more regularly you use a supplement, the more effective it will be. Therefore, don’t extend yourself considering a one-off purchase, to have the intended benefit you’ll need to make a regular, subscription style commitment. Many collagen companies offer discounts for subscription members, so it’s worth weighing up the cost of a subscription purchase and how much of a discount you can get than making regular one-off purchases.
In more specific terms collagen tablets usually have a low price point at less than £1 per recommended daily serving, but it is worth noting that a recommended tablet dose may be ineffective. Collagen powders can range between £1-£3 and upwards per daily serving. Liquid collagen, can cost around £2 -£3 per serving on average, but if you find a brand that offers a high strength liquid collagen for a good price, such as this one from Reverse Life which offers a whopping 10,000MG per bottle, it can work out at just £1.45 per serving for a one off purchase, and even cheaper on subscription model.
Ultimately, your budget for supplementation will be an entirely personal decision, but hopefully this will give you a guide to how much generally collagen costs.
