Gut health is not something that should be taken lightly. If there are problems with your gut health, it will affect other parts of your body. So it’s important to take proactive measures to keep your gut healthy. In this article, we will look at the benefits of collagen for gut health and why you should use collagen supplements to promote gut health.

Anatomy of the Intestines and Why Gut Wall Integrity is Important

It's not just the stomach that needs attention for healthy gut health. The lining of your intestines must also be strong, and collagen is an essential nutrient for this. Collagen is a protein found in healthy connective tissues such as bones and skin. It has been shown to promote healing in wounds as well as strengthen joints, which can help reduce joint pain associated with osteoarthritis.

The gut wall is a barrier to prevent toxins from entering the bloodstream. It is made of layers of cells that connect and form tight junctions. These join together to form an impermeable layer that keeps out harmful substances, bacteria, and viruses.

The gut wall is also important for immune health because it regulates how well nutrients are absorbed into your system. The more nutrients you absorb, the healthier your body will be overall. Which is why many consider taking collagen for gut health optimization.

The gut wall is made up of collagen and elastin, which help it be strong enough to withstand pressure from the process of digestion.

It is also made up of mucus and cells that help protect your body from harmful substances. The gut wall plays an important role in digestion and the absorption of nutrients into your body. It helps break down food and absorb the nutrients that are needed for good health.

What Happens When the Gut Wall's Integrity Fails?

When your gut wall's integrity fails, the pathway for toxins to enter the bloodstream is opened up. This can result in "leaky gut" syndrome, also known as intestinal hyper-permeability or intestinal permeability. Leaky gut has been linked with a variety of health issues, including IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), fibromyalgia, depression, and autoimmune conditions.

Dysbiosis 

Dysbiosis is the term used to describe an imbalance of the gut flora. It can lead to leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other digestive problems. Dysbiosis is caused by several factors, including:

• Antibiotics
• Chronic stress
• Environmental toxins (such as chemicals in plastics)
• A diet high in sugar, processed foods, and artificial ingredients

The gut microbiome is made up of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These microorganisms live in your intestines and are essential for your health. They help digest food, prevent illness-causing germs from multiplying, and assist with the absorption of nutrients. This is a very important bodily process that you want to keep operating well, nutrients such as collagen can bolster your guts health and keep it operating smoothly.

IBS 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition that causes your bowels to become swollen, and painful, and have a lot of gas or mucus in them. Some people with IBS may also have diarrhea or constipation. The symptoms can be mild or severe, and they frequently worsen when certain foods are consumed.

It's not clear what causes IBS symptoms in most people with the condition. But things like diet and stress can make them worse. Good news: It's usually easy to manage your symptoms so they don't get in the way of your life and supplementing with nutrients like collagen can enhance your gut health profile.

Signs and Symptoms of Gut Health Problems

• Bloating: the accumulation of gas in the stomach or intestines.
• Diarrhea: frequent watery, loose stools.
• Constipation: infrequent bowel movements and hard stool.
• Abdominal pain: discomfort in your abdominal area, including cramping and bloating.
• Nausea/vomiting (or both): feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up from it.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, or bloating that comes and goes for at least three months but doesn't last as long as six months.
• Vitamin deficiencies: loss of appetite and weight loss, muscle weakness, dry skin; brittle nails, fatigue, pale gums, tingling sensation in hands or feet, muscle cramps, anemia. 

Gut Health and Collagen

There has not been a lot of research on collagen and gut health as of yet. To date, most of the research has been on animals. But to understand the role of collagen in the gut, we must look at the amino acids found in collagen.

• Glutamine helps to build connective tissues and heal the gut's lining, which can be helpful for those with leaky gut. Glutamine can also support healthy gut microbiota (aka gut bacteria), which can help to strengthen the gut wall. Interestingly, glutamine is sold on its own as a supplement and is used in many leaky gut protocols.
• Glycine and proline are two amino acids that help seal and heal the gut lining when it is damaged, improving digestion.
• Arginine is another amino acid involved in wound healing in the gut.

Collagen naturally contains all these amino acids, making it a helpful supplement to accompany your gut health regime.

How to Use Collagen for Gut Health

The dosage and best collagen supplement for you will depend on your individual needs. Most collagen supplements are sold in doses ranging from 5 to 10 grams.

Collagen is available in many different formats, but the powder is ideal. Simply stir your collagen into a beverage of your choice (it dissolves in water) and drink. It is also helpful to make sure you're getting additional probiotics in your diet, as well as a fibre source that is easy to tolerate, such as beta-glucan.

References

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464620305028

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25368996/ 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9198822/