Collagen: what are the benefits during and after pregnancy?

Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the body. It accounts for a quarter of the body's proteins and is found in many tissues (skin, ligaments, muscles, bones, blood vessels, connective tissues, etc.). There are currently 29 known types of collagen, divided into different categories according to their structure and function. Among the most important are types I (skin, tendons, ligaments, bones, teeth, fibrocartilage), II and III. Type I collagen is the most abundant in the body. Type IV collagen is found in the uterus [1].

Collagen belongs to the family of structural proteins. It provides elasticity, flexibility, strength, hydration and healing properties to the body's structures. It is made up of three polypeptide chains wound into a helix, each composed of thousands of amino acids, elastin and glycoproteins. In the human body, it takes the form of a collagen network, often compared to "glue", responsible for the cohesion of tissues and organs — a kind of binding agent.

Collagen is produced naturally by the body up until our twenties. After that age, production begins to decline and the body can no longer replenish collagen quickly. Reserves are gradually depleted without being replaced. By the age of 35, only 80% of our collagen reserves remain [2].

Various factors can also accelerate collagen breakdown, including sun exposure, smoking, pollution, and certain hormones.

Our range of collagen pregnancy helps to boost your intake and compensate for the drop in production: 

Try our collagen-enriched powders. Team chocolate? Try Mamaload, made with raw cacao and rich in collagen. Team coffee? Déca Mama, coffee flavour but caffeine-free, for all mamas. 

Beyond its common structural roles in the body, collagen has other very specific roles during pregnancy. 

Collagen supplements are the best pregnancy food supplements to support the body. 

Collagen is very important after childbirth. It can help with many postpartum symptoms. 

How to stimulate collagen production?

It is important to consume foods rich in nutrients that help stimulate collagen production in your body.

Our powders Mamaload, Déca Mama, Collagène Mama are rich in collagen. We use type I collagen, which is the most abundant in the body and is particularly beneficial for tissues and skin. We also include type III collagen, which provides a flexible network for cellular support, is the main component often found in skin, and is abundant during the early stages of wound healing.

Our postpartum food supplement is rich in vitamin C, zinc and vitamin E, which help to stimulate collagen production. If you are breastfeeding, it is a food supplement compatible with breastfeeding. 

Collagen creams do exist. However, they are poorly absorbed and do not penetrate the skin barrier. This is because the collagen molecules they contain are too large to reach the deeper layers of the skin [14]. Creams and other cosmetic products therefore mainly have a moisturising and smoothing effect on the outer layer of the skin. They would also theoretically need to be applied several times a day, as their effect is very short-lived. 

A body and facial massage (for everyone's enjoyment) is a wonderful way to stimulate collagen naturally. These massages help keep your skin well moisturised, which can help prevent stretch marks. They also have different benefits depending on the area of the body massaged: on your legs, they stimulate blood circulation and can help prevent heavy legs; on your bust, they help tone the skin; on your tummy and hips, they help maintain smooth, supple skin!

Nourishing anti-stretch mark butter idea: mix shea butter, avocado oil, Inca Inchi vegetable oil and wheatgerm vegetable oil.

According to the results of these studies, taking collagen peptides improves skin hydration and elasticity and contributes to reducing facial wrinkles.[15]

Foods rich in collagen

Foods naturally rich in collagen include: pork, beef, chicken and fish. 

Tip: If you enjoy chicken and/or fish, make sure to eat the skin, which is very rich in collagen.

If you want to boost your collagen intake, opt for a chicken or beef broth.

Broth is not just for the postpartum period — it can also be a great ally during pregnancy or labour to help restore your strength. It is also highly remineralising (rich in minerals such as iron, magnesium, zinc…) and low in calories!

Our range of bone broth is already ready for you:  

Mama Poule, the bone broth made from chicken bones, contains 6g of collagen per serving.

Mama beef, made from beef bones, contains nearly 15g of collagen per serving. 

Vegan collagen does not exist, as collagen can only be produced by animals. "Animal-free" collagen is not a real thing. Only animal products contain collagen.

There are two families of collagen: marine collagen (which can be extracted from fish, algae, jellyfish, molluscs, etc.) and mammalian collagen (pork, bovine).

If you are wondering which collagen to choose, here are our tips: 

Food supplements in the form of collagen peptides (or hydrolysed collagen) consist of shorter amino acid chains than those that make up collagen in our body. They therefore enter the bloodstream more quickly to be put to use [16]. 

Collagen is thus directly absorbed by the body, making these food supplements more effective.

Studies have shown that food supplements based on hydrolysed collagen may help prevent the appearance of stretch marks and improve skin firmness [17]. 

Our powdered food supplements, such as Mamaload with raw cacao, contain collagen in the form of hydrolysed marine collagen. Our snack Banana glow with banana and chocolate chips is also enriched with collagen!

Marine collagen or mammalian collagen? 

Marine collagen has advantages over mammalian collagen, as it can be easily extracted, is water-soluble and is safe because it is free from the risks of animal diseases and pathogens [18]. Indeed, outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy and foot-and-mouth disease have heightened health concerns regarding the use of collagen and collagen-derived products from terrestrial animals in recent years [19].

Furthermore, fish collagen peptides have a superior antioxidant effect compared to porcine and bovine collagen peptides due to their relatively high content of glycine and proline (two amino acids) and their relatively high hydrophobicity, which facilitates increased lipid solubility [20].

Marine collagen peptides are biologically active, they have improved chemical and physical properties and enhanced function [21], as well as a number of bioactive properties such as antioxidant, anti-ageing of the skin, antimicrobial, antihypertensive and wound-healing activities [22].

Is there a risk associated with consuming collagen? 

The daily dose of collagen in the form of collagen peptides is 2.5 to 5 grams per day (i.e. 2,500 to 5,000 mg per day) for effects on the skin [23]. For an effect on joint relief, the daily dose of hydrolysed collagen is 10 grams per day and 40 mg per day for type II collagen [24].

Collagen is a source of non-essential amino acids, already produced by the human body.

The main precaution to take concerns daily doses (to avoid the risk of overdosing). 

For pregnant or breastfeeding women, this intake should be between 70 and 100 grams per day, from all sources combined.

As you will have gathered, collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the human body, and supplementing with it — or with nutrients that may help stimulate its production — is well worth considering, especially during or after pregnancy. It is important for many general functions, such as helping to maintain skin elasticity and hydration, and during or after pregnancy it plays a particularly key role at the maternal-foetal interface, where its expression is essential. It can also help address some of the minor discomforts that come with pregnancy: stretch marks, joint pain, and hair loss.