The Biochemistry Behind Collagen Synthesis In The Human Body
It’s not as simple as just consuming a collagen supplement.
We do know of collagen as this structural protein in our body. It’s a protein that supports the physical structure of:
Our skin.
Our joints.
We can find it in our bones, too.
It even seals off the atherosclerotic plaques that are prevalent in heart disease patients.
Of course, collagen is a protein like any other protein in the body. There are many different types of amino acids in the body, and a combination of them will result in the synthesis of a protein molecule. Specific combinations yield specific types of proteins, and collagen is no exception to that.
There are multiple types of collagen present in our body, each having their own part to play in how the body functions.
But what we have are 3 dominant amino acids in the structure of collagen — glycine, proline and lysine. The genetic coding for collagen synthesis is encoded into the DNA of fibroblast cells for these cells to produce collagen accordingly — and of course, as we age, the production efficiency and the quantity of collagen being produced decreases. As we age, too, the rate of collagen destruction actually increases too, so we’re actually facing a double whammy.
While glycine and proline aren’t that necessarily reactive, lysine contains an additional amino (-NH2) group that the lysyl oxidase enzyme targets and converts into an aldehyde. Two aldehyde groups on neighbouring collagen protein strands can react with each other in an aldol condensation reaction, which then results in the cross-linking of these collagen protein strands.
Even though these 3 amino acids are the major constitutents, the collagen protein does contain all the other naturally occurring amino acids in its structure, and Vitamin C is necessary for facilitating the synthesis of collagen itself.
This cross-linking provides structural stability to the collagen protein strands, and hence they can then be used for structural support in our bones, skin and joints, for instance.
Of course, the bad part…
Ideally, we’d want one aldehyde on a protein strand to cross-link with another aldehyde on an adjacent protein strand to facilitate the structural stability of the protein.
Of course, though, as this reaction is dependent on an aldehyde-aldehyde reaction, what would happen when another aldehyde comes into play and reacts with the collagen protein’s aldehyde groups?
For example, glucose exists as an aldehyde too, and that’s what diabetics have an excess of.
For example, unsaturated fatty acids are prone to lipid peroxidation, which also provides a channel towards the release of reactive aldehydes such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE).
Simply put, a diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids and sugar is going to cause problems with an increased intake of aldehydes.
And in diabetes, what we see is the glucose aldehydes reacting with the amino groups on haemoglobin proteins to form HbA1c.
So now, if we are consuming large quantities of processed foods, we’d end up having to deal with more glucose aldehydes and 4-HNE aldehydes in our body.
And these aldehydes can react with collagen aldehydes, which then disrupts the process of collagen cross-linking. It’s going to eventually collapse. And when the collagen structure collapses, it’s going to start leaving some evident wrinkles on the skin, too.
Does it then require a rocket scientist to explain why consuming too much sugar can also accelerate the aging process?
Not really, right?
Stress also does play a part in aging
The problem with stress in our body is that the biochemical response is to produce this hormone known as cortisol. The problem with too much cortisol in our body, though, is that…
It facilitates the degradation of collagen back into its constituent amino acids.
And that’s also perhaps why people who are stressed tend to start feeling the effects of joint pains and aches all around their body — all as their stress response produces more cortisol that helps to facilitate collagen degradation.
But we tend to see that as a problem of “aging”.
It isn’t, really.
It’s just that we aren’t really taking sufficient care of our bodies — whether it be in the form of relaxing or eating the right foods in the first place.
But the problem is that some people will have to be stressed and working 3 jobs just to keep food on the table and pay their bills/debts. That’s inevitable for them, but it’s not a healthy situation to be in long term. So while keeping our bodies in good shape by adjusting our lifestyles are key, not everyone will be able to make those adjustments because they have other more pressing needs at hand.
And that’s a pity, really.
Because the world has become so modernised. We’ve got things that our ancestors didn’t have 1000 years ago. Things that should help us to live better lives.
But people who drew the short end of the straw end up having to pay more for it. It’s a terrible trade to make, to be honest.
However, if we can do it to live a healthier life and increase the quality of our lives, then why not?
Unfortunately cutting sugar isn’t as much a physical issue as it is a psychological issue. Not when it can be that addictive, isn’t it?
That becomes the real issue that most of us have to deal with — just so that we can age gracefully.
Do feel free to check out 10 Nutrients That Support Healthy Joint Function to see how our diet can impact the collagen structure in our bodies.
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