Do You Know What Amino Acids Are in Collagen?

Collagen is one of the most important proteins in the body. Just like any other protein, collagen is composed of amino acids. But what amino acids are in collagen? Before probing the question, let's grasp a basic understanding of collagen.

What Is Collagen And What Does It Do?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It is the building block of your skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissues. It also exists in your organs, blood vessels, and intestinal lining.

The roles of collagen in the body include:

 ● Helping hair and nails grow.

 ● Preventing bone loss.

 ● Boosting muscle mass.

 ● Helping blood to clot.

 ● Helping replace dead skin cells.

 ● Providing a protective covering for internal organs.

Now that you know collagen is vital to your body. Let's move on to the question: what amino acids are in collagen?

What Amino Acids Are in Collagen?

Collagen contains 19 amino acids in total. Proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline are considered the primary amino acids. They constitute about 50% of the total amino acids of collagen. These three amino acids make up the structure of collagen. The rest of the amino acids in collagen are alanine, asparagine, arginine, aspartate, phenylalanine, cysteine, glutamate, glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, valine.

Knowing what amino acids are in collagen is not enough. To understand why collagen contributes to your body so much, let's go deeper: what are the roles of the amino acids in collagen?

The Roles of Amino Acids in Collagen

To start with, how do the three primary amino acids function inside collagen? The main amino acids (proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline) combine and form a triple-helix structure we call collagen protein. Meanwhile, they produce bioactive peptides that can repair connective tissue. This combination of amino acids is found in collagen only.

Besides, each amino acid has its specific role in your body.

 ● Glycine:

Glycine makes up about one-third of collagen, which makes it the most abundant amino acid in collagen. It is crucial for your joints, tendons, and ligaments. Besides, it stimulates the production of hormones and enzymes and helps support heart and liver health.

 ● Proline:

Proline is a key amino acid in collagen. It makes up about 17% of collagen. It is vital for collagen biosynthesis, structure, and strength. Proline helps maintain joint health and stimulates the healing of skin and joints.

 ● Hydroxyproline:

Hydroxyproline accounts for about 13.5% of collagen. Unlike the other amino acids in collagen, hydroxyproline is a modified amino acid transformed by proline.

Hydroxyproline promotes the formation of collagen fibrils, which helps wound healing. Furthermore, it helps produce elastin in the body, a protein that provides elasticity to the skin and blood vessels.

Apart from the three primary amino acids, there are other amino acids of smaller quantities in collagen. Here is a list of them and their roles in the body.

 ● Glutamine: abundant in the body and is used to make proteins.

 ● Arginine: helps wound healing and releasing hormones.

 ● Asparagine: regulates blood sugar levels and helps to protect the liver

 ● Aspartate: helps regulate hormones.

 ● Cysteine: essential for making collagen.

 ● Histidine: helps protect nerve cells and regulate sleep.

 ● Isoleucine: improves the immune system and stimulates wound healing.

 ● Leucine: regulates blood sugar levels.

 ● Lysine: helps the body absorb calcium and promotes collagen growth.

 ● Methionine: regulates metabolic processes.

 ● Phenylalanine: helps treat depression.

 ● Serine: involved in the metabolism of fats and fatty acids.

 ● Threonine: helps to produce antibodies and promotes liver health.

 ● Tyrosine: helps produce other amino acids such as tyrosine.

 ● Valine: stimulates muscle growth and lowers blood sugar levels.

 ● Alanine: provides energy for muscle tissue and increases immunity.

 ● Glutamate: functions to regulate mood and helps shape learning and memory.

Conclusion

What amino acids are in collagen? There are 19 amino acids in the collagen. Among them, glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline are the primary amino acids in collagen, making up the structure of collagen. The rest of the amino acids in collagen are just as important. Each one of them plays a role in the body.