Holistic protein: Collagen pegged as “all-round ingredient” for beauty, healthy aging and sports nutrition

28 Apr 2022 --- As consumers take a more holistic approach to their health, functional ingredients like collagen continue to rise in popularity. Industry experts address emerging collagen formats fueled by the need for increased convenience, taste and proprietary blends.

According to Bioiberica, the collagen space has steadily increased the number of consumers taking a daily dose of collagen – up 8% in the US between 2019 and 2021. Supporting this, Lonza acknowledges the collagen market is expected to maintain its upward trend, rising from US$3.5 billion in 2018 to US$16.7 billion by 2028.

“In recent years, collagen has gained popularity as a valuable source of protein. Today the collagen market includes new categories such as sports nutrition and clinical nutrition,” Martin Walter, product manager of collagen peptide and new technology at Gelita, tells NutritionInsight.

“As a highly functional protein class naturally present in the body, collagen ticks all these boxes and is currently enjoying a surge in popularity,” Suhail Ishaq, president at BioCell Technology, tells NutritionInsight.

According to Jaume Reguant, healthcare director at Bioiberica, research shows that most regular collagen users in the US look for supplementation in pill form. Still, year-on-year between 2020 and 2021, a rising number of users are looking for F&B products fortified with collagen.

Multi-faceted ingredient merges with other sectors
As an “all-round” ingredient, collagen can be combined with other components to address overall health.

Lonza notes that collagen has gained traction in various supplement categories, but it has seen particularly substantial growth in the joint health field.“Combining collagen with other ingredients to deliver multiple health benefits in one supplement, such as bone and joint health, is becoming popular. This is partly driven by consumer demand for convenient nutrition products, helping them address multiple health concerns,” Lindsey Toth, director of global marketing at Lonza Capsules & Health Ingredients, tells NutritionInsight.

Beauty applications remain the top application for collagen – in the US, for example, skin and beauty is the main purchasing driver for almost half of collagen users, explains Reguant.

Collagen use in “beauty-from-within” or “nutricosmetics” formulations continues to grow for overall wellness, Ishaq adds.

“The demand for holistic skincare solutions, including dietary supplements, is proliferating.”

As more and more consumers continue to recognize the link between mobility and other health areas – such as weight management, heart health, energy levels and mental well-being – there is a demand for products that feature multiple ingredients, providing various benefits, explains Reguant.

A product supporting overall mobility, for example, might contain a synergistic ingredient blend of protein targeting muscles, hyaluronic acid and native type II collagen for joints and cartilage, plus calcium or vitamin K2 for bones.

Spotlighting new formats and joint health
Reguant highlights the growing consumer appetite for new formats as “one of the most exciting trends” in the collagen space. “This is driven, in part, by the shift in the types of consumers interested in improving their mobility.”

Collagen emerges from the classical fields with known benefits such as beauty and joint health to new segments, according to Gelita. “Joint health is the second-highest driver, with consumers across the US and Europe checking off several applications for their collagen use – including bone health, pain or inflammation and heart health,” he says.

While previously considered a key concern predominantly for senior adults or athletes, a growing population of younger, active consumers are taking a proactive approach to their mobility and joint health, he explains.

“Younger consumers are proactively seeking solutions to support their mobility, which is driving the development of new collagen formats on the market.”

According to Walter, collagen emerges from the classical fields with known benefits such as beauty and joint health to new segments.

“Recent clinical studies from Gelita show the effects of specific collagen peptides on muscle metabolism. Also, tendons, ligaments and fascia tissue are more focused on new scientific findings available,” says Walter. “Overall, this shows that collagen is gaining traction in sports nutrition and for consumers seeking a healthier lifestyle.”

New sources of collagen on the horizon
Gelita is currently researching the production of a vegan collagen alternative based on microorganisms, Walter notes.

BioCell Technology notes that collagen has wide-ranging applications targeting the skin, joints, connective tissue and gut microbiome health.“The first results are promising as the laboratory tests have succeeded in using biotechnological processes to produce a pure protein. Experiments show that the collagen peptides from the test tube improve the stimulation of collagen biosynthesis and thus may have an impact on improving health for aging and active populations.”

“Lonza’s UC-II undenatured type II collagen is manufactured using cartilage derived from chicken sternum – a good source of type II collagen,” says Toth.

In addressing vegan collagen products, Ishaq adds: “Collagen by nature does not exist in plants. We are aware of vegan products that claim to stimulate collagen, but we believe that it is misleading to call these products collagen.”

“Also influencing purchase is the source of collagen – there has been a slight increase in the number of collagen users looking for ‘grass-fed’ or ‘fair trade sourced’ collagen. In the US, chicken origin collagen is the most popular choice for regular collagen users,” says Reguant.

It is not only the collagen source that’s important. It’s also the processing method, Toth notes.

“The gentle, low-temperature patented process Lonza uses for UC-II collagen enables its mechanism of action in joint health. By ensuring that more of the undenatured triple helix structure of the type II collagen is preserved, the important bioactive binding regions on the collagen triple helix – called epitopes – are also preserved.”

As consumers seek more convenience, innovation in collagen-based products is propelled with powders, shots, gummies and beverages. “This preservation enables them to bind with a collection of immune cells in the small intestine, called Peyer’s patches,” adds Toth. “The binding process triggers an immune response, which helps to promote the growth of new joint cartilage.”

Texture enhancement and delivery formats
As to Reguant highlights, Consumers are prioritizing taste and convenience. “They seek solutions that can easily be added to their daily routines.”

“Capsules and pills remain popular with formulators as a proven method of encapsulating various ingredients. However, this shift in the market is propelling innovation in collagen-based products – from powders and shots to dairy products, gummies and beverages.”

Due to the rise in popularity, Ishaq explains that the diversity and variety of collagen-related products have increased dramatically.

“However, as not all collagen ingredients are created equal, the collagen type, source, molecular size, composition, manufacturing process and dosage in the final product all impact efficacy,” adds Ishaq.

“Research in the field of texture enhancement continues. Gelita has developed new collagen peptides for texture enhancement of protein and cereal bars. This directly influences the consistency and the mouthfeel,” says Walter.

“We expect to see increasing demand for new delivery formats to better support consumers’ busy daily lifestyles,” adds Reguant.

By Nicole Kerr