Understanding Gelatin and Collagen Supplements

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Understanding gelatin and collagen supplements plays an important health recovery role in the Paleo Diet, the GAPS Diet, and the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.

Long known for improving hair, skin, and nails, gelatin has been commercially available since the 1920s. The terms collagen and gelatin can be used interchangeably when talking about supplements.

Here’s some topics in this podcast with a representative from Vital Proteins Collagen products:

• Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body.  It is a key component of all connective tissue, including that found in bones, skin, joints, ligaments, hair, and muscles. Without collagen, we couldn’t stand up or move.
• Gelatin is a protein derived from collagen, yielding a specific list of 18 amino acids, including 8 of the 9 Essential Aminos.
• Gelatin provides 6 grams of protein per teaspoon.
• Tryptophan is not part of collagen, and gelatin is also low in Methionine, which can be inflammatory.
• The two primary providers of gelatin/collagen are Great Lakes and Vital Proteins.

Where Does Collagen Come From?

Collagen can be extracted from bones, but gelatin comes from animal hides.

Both Great Lakes and Vital Proteins say their animals are pasture-raised. The hides (skins) are highly processed to break down and extract the collagen. This is then further processed into a tasteless powder.

Proline and Glycine in Gelatin and Collagen

Proline and glycine amino acids are abundant in gelatin and collagen supplements.  They were abundant in our hunter-gatherer diets, as we used all parts of the animal in stews and roasts. Our modern diet, focused as it is on eating muscle, gives us less of these aminos than we evolved to require.

Sources of Proline and Glycine

As steak and burger eaters, there are only three ways for us to obtain these important aminos in high concentration.

1. Get proline, glycine, arginine, and more in a bone broth made from bones, skin, feet, gristle, and other “non-edible” portions of your pastured meat, poultry, or wild fish. Search for “Paleo Bone Broth” recipes on the web.
2. Buy gelatin from pastured animals.
3. You could buy these aminos in pill or powder form. The full complement of aminos in a collagen powder, such as from Vital Proteins, is the most convenient option.
   • Glycine can be useful when taken with a Passion Flower supplement for sleep or anxiety (here it is in glycerite tincture form that is sweet and requires no water).  Glycine is a precursor to GABA, our main inhibitory and calming neurotransmitter. See this article and this one.

Gelling and Non-Gelling Supplements

Vital Proteins “Collagen Peptides” and Great Lakes “Collagen Hydrolysate” dissolve in water, allowing you to add them to beverages, smoothies or stews.

If you want gelatin desserts, gummy squares, or aspics, get the Vital Proteins “Beef Gelatin”.

Benefits of Gelatin and Collagen Supplements

• Diets heavy in muscle meat elevate methionine and tryptophan.  Research shows that restricting methionine, or balancing it with glycine, can prolong life and reduce inflammation.  My podcast with Denise Minger on her book “Death By Food Pyramid” touches on this, as does her book.  Chris Kresser also wrote this article about protein, methionine, and gelatin.
• Gelatin provides glycine and proline which we use to repair the gut, improve digestion, lubricate the joints, improve skin, improve sleep and anxiety, and possibly reduce cellulite.
• Because Arginine promotes Human Growth Hormone, gelatin can help boost metabolism and weight loss.  Arginine is not good for herpes sufferers so gelatin and collagen are not allowed. See this article and podcast on collagen with herpes.
• Glycine has some anti-estrogenic effects.

If you eat plenty of nose-to-tail foods, such as oxtail soup and bone broth, you don’t need gelatin and collagen supplements. For the rest of us, about two teaspoons daily in water or gummy squares is recommended.

Vital Proteins Verses Great Lake Brands

I interviewed Corey Friese of Vital Proteins and reviewed both products as well as the information on both websites.  Here’s what I found:

• I prefer the packaging of Vital Proteins.  They use large BPA-free containers with wide-mouth lids. The containers close tightly and allow easy scooping.
• Great Lakes is packaged in a cardboard tube that does not seal out air or moisture.
• The contents of both products are basically the same, although the amino acid analyses I got from both companies were different.  Theoretically, this is impossible…
• The gelling action of the gelatin and the dissolvability of the hydrolysates seemed equal in both brands.
• Price-wise, I compared the products by weight rather than serving size. Great Lakes’ serving size is smaller, so their label lists more servings per container.  Vital Proteins suggests a larger serving, so it appears you get less. Vital Proteins ships for free. If you have Amazon Prime and get free shipping on Great Lakes, it is less expensive than Vital Proteins.  If you’re paying for shipping, they’re about the same cost.

The Gelatin and Collagen Podcast

In the podcast player above, or on iTunes, I talk about Lysine and Arginine, and how Arginine can promote Herpes and Shingles.  I recommend taking a half capsule of Lysine with every serving of gelatin if you are prone to these viruses.

We also chat about glutamic acid, glutamine, and MSG.

The podcast link is at the top of this article or you may go to my iTunes page for Primal Diet – Modern Health.  There are many shows to explore! Find a topic you’re interested in, and listen. Don’t forget to leave a review!