Collagen Structure

 

 

Collagen is basically a group of amino acids linked together in a fibrous arrangement. The scientific term for this is 'fibrous scleroproteins'. The fibres in question contain long chains of up to 19 individual amino acids. The most important amino acids within the chain are prolin, glicyn, hydroxyprolin and hydroxysilizin.

 

 

Amino Acid Structure

 

Amino acids are a mix of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. The combination of 100 or more of these elements in a specific pattern produces an amino acid. These chains are then chained together forming long polypeptide molecular chains. These in-turn join together creating super helixes with a space volume structure. These are the building blocks of natural collagen.

 

 

Catching the Chain

 

There is an extremely desirable sequence in these super helix collagen structures. Represented in graphical format the sequence is _X_Y_Z_. These chains are the life form of a living organism and can be broken apart during periods of illness. For example in cases of pneumonia, where very high body temperature can be encountered.

 

 

Degradation of Natural Collagen

 

Degradation of the triple helix collagen, obtained from fish skins can occur due to a variety of causes. In excessive temperatures, collagen structure is likely to lose it's biological activity due to presence of the tiniest amount of acidity or bacteria. This causes a loss of effectiveness when combining with it's naturally occurring counterpart in human skin.

 

 

Proof of the Demise

 

American researchers, E.Gibson and L.Chang (2002), as well as the French researcher J.Roche (2003) further support the negative result of temperature and acidity on the effectiveness of skin absorption of collagen preparations. Even the best known absorption type products, those produced by Inventia Polish Technologies do not retain restorative properties above 27 degrees Centigrade. Considering that normal human body temperature is 36.6 degrees Centigrade, it is no surprise that de-spiralisation of collagen gel occurs in less than one hour, when in contact with human skin.

 

 

Finding a Solution

 

Therefore, the desired skin preparation must be able to withstand many clinical and temperature conditions, aside of those mentioned above. These considerations show that it must be produced from proteins of less than 350.000 molecular weight, similar to those occurring in human skin. G.Reich (1970) Natural Collagen preparations are produced from proteins constituted from molecular weight chains in the range 250.000 to 310.000. This narrow control of molecular size enable rapid absorption by the skin, thereby reducing the onset of de-spiralisation of the triple helix.

 

 

No other available product of this type, even those derived from ordinary fish skins, has been able to demonstrate these properties. In order to understand this revolution in cosmetics, it is necessary to appreciate that the regenerating proteins are: collagen, elastine and creatin. It is in fact, these proteins that help the skin conserve its tension, moisture, elasticity and texture.