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.

Le collagène est produit naturellement par le corps jusqu’à la vingtaine. Passé cet âge, sa production commence à chuter, le corps n’arrive plus à produire rapidement du collagène. Les réserves sont alors vidées au fur et à mesure sans être remplacées. A 35 ans, il ne reste plus que 80% de nos réserves de collagène [2].

Différents facteurs peuvent également accentuer la dégradation du collagène, notamment l’exposition au soleil, le tabac, la pollution ou encore certaines hormones.

Notre gamme de collagène grossesse aide à booster vos apports et compenser la chute de production : 

Essayez nos poudres enrichis en collagène. Team chocolat ? Testez Mamaload, au cacao cru et riche en collagène. Team café ? Déca Mama, goût café mais sans caféine, pour toutes les mamas. 

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

Les suppléments de collagène sont les meilleurs compléments alimentaires grossesse pour soutenir le corps. 

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.

Nos poudres Mamaload, Déca Mama, Collagène Mama sont riches en collagène. Nous utilisons du collagène de type I qui est le plus abondant dans le corps, il est notamment bénéfique pour les tissus et la peau. Nous avons également du collagène de type 3 qui fournit un réseau flexible pour le soutien cellulaire, le composant principal souvent trouvé dans la peau et qui est abondant pendant les premiers stades de la cicatrisation.

Notre complément alimentaire post partum est riche en vitamine C, zinc et vitamine E, qui aident à stimuler la production de collagène. Si vous allaitez, c'est un complément alimentaire compatible allaitement. 

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]

Les aliments riches en collagène

Les aliments naturellement riches en collagène sont : le porc, le bœuf, le poulet ou encore le poisson. 

Astuce : Si vous aimez le poulet et/ou le poisson, assurez-vous de consommer la peau qui est très riche en collagène.

Si vous voulez faire le plein de collagène, optez pour un bouillon de poulet ou de bœuf.

Le bouillon n’est pas à réserver uniquement au postpartum, mais peut-être un allié de choix durant la grossesse ou l’accouchement pour reprendre des forces. En plus il est très reminéralisant (riche en minéraux comme le fer, magnésium, zinc…) et faible en calories !

Notre gamme de bouillon d'os est déjà prête pour vous :  

Mama Poule, le bone broth à base d'os de poulet, contient 6g de collagène par portion.

Mama beef, à base d'os de boeuf, contient près de 15g de collagène par portion. 

Il n’existe pas de collagène végétal car il ne peut être produit que par les animaux. Le collagène “sans produit animal” n’existe pas. Seuls les produits animaux contiennent du collagène.

On retrouve deux familles de collagène : le collagène marin (qui peut être extrait des poissons, algues, méduses, mollusques, etc) et le collagène de mammifères (porc, bovins).

Si vous vous demandez quel collagène choisir, voici nos conseils : 

Les compléments alimentaires sous forme de peptides de collagène (ou collagène hydrolysé) correspondent à des chaînes d’acides aminés plus courtes que celles qui composent le collagène dans notre corps. Ils partent ainsi plus vite dans la circulation sanguine pour être utilisés [16]. 

Le collagène va être ainsi directement absorbé par le corps, rendant donc ces compléments alimentaires plus efficaces.

Des études ont montré que des compléments alimentaires à base de collagène hydrolysé peuvent aider à prévenir l’apparition des vergetures et améliorer la fermeté de la peau [17]. 

Nos compléments alimentaires sous forme de poudre, comme Mamaload au cacao cru, contiennent du collagène sous forme de collagène marin hydrolysé. Notre snack Banana glow à la banane et pépites de chocolat est également enrichi en collagène !

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.