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Collagen heavy metal content
In another thread, some people were discussing the heavy metal content of collagen peptide supplements. I asked Keith McCormick about his own OsteoNaturals supplement. He sent me the Gelita lab report. I'll summarize the key tiems. For each metal, I'll list the desired specification, and the actual result.
Cadmium: < = 0.10 ppm, < 0.10 ppm
Mercury: < = 0.02 ppm, < 0.02
Arsenic: < = 0.7 ppm, < 0.7 ppm
Lead: < = 0.50 ppm, < 0.01 ppm
So, it is not free of heavy metals, but it doesn't have a lot. What I don't know is what levels are acceptable. Most of the brands contain metals. Vital Proteins was sued a few years ago; they are owned by Nestle, a notorious company for ignoring consumer health. Of course it's a little suspicious that the OsteoNaturals lab test was performed by Gelita itself - the maker of Fortibone.
I am now thinking that the benefit of using collagen peptides, which is small to begin with, is not worth it. I need to do some more research.
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Funny this popped up today, saw my primary care doctor yesterday and asked about adding collagen peptides to my diet (have read more protein, more collagen is good for bones; also for thinning hair and wrinkles!). Seen posts about products with Fortibone which sound helpful and has been studied. My primary care said she didn't see any reason to take any collagen products; to up the protein from lean meats, plants, protein bars, etc. She said the collagen products (like supplements) are unregulated so all could have various amounts of ingredients in them. I also am questioning the use of collagen; although there are studies (there are studies on everything if you dig deep enough!) that seem to show a benefit for osteoporosis. So once again the best treatments for osteoporosis are clear as mud!
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2 ReactionsI have tried a few brands of collagen, hoping for a hair/skin benefit and perhaps a bone one too, but deep down, I think there is a lot of hype around them, and they are not cheap! The discussion around Fortibone is also exaggerated, as the one research study compared it with a placebo and not another collagen and was funded by the company producing it. I wonder whether any product or advice that costs a ridiculous amount of money is worth it. My parents both lived to 97, and I don’t recall them using any special powders or supplements or exercise routines, or vibrating plates. They may have eaten prunes periodically. But, that being said……just in case…..and since I’ve been warned repeatedly about my bone fragility, even though I have not yet fractured, I add a bit of collagen to my coffee or oatmeal, every once in awhile, hoping it might make a difference and that it won’t do any harm. You are right. Clear as mud and exhausting!
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3 ReactionsI’m perplexed as well.
Used NativePath fir nearly a year. I upped other supplements, exercise, less sugar..and Dexa was worse. No fractures known. Age 75 years
I plan on trying AlgaeCals package including strontium but not for a few more months.
I’m Getting a REMs Ultrasound scan for information on my Bone Quality, on October 6th then need to decide what direction to go.
Confused with minerals and other vitamins added in some of the powders and pills. What’s necessary what isn’t.
@jozer I tried collagen well-researched supplements for an entire year, and saw no difference in skin, hair or nails. I do not have osteoporosis or even osteopenia, but have a strong family history of it, so I hoped it might help there too. My DEXA at the end of that year showed no change from 2 years prior, so probably no help there either.
As your primary told you, these supplements are unregulated, so we can only hope they contain what is promised (and nothing more). After a year of no particular benefit, I decided it was a failed experiment and quit.
So helpful to get insights from everyone on this site - sure wish osteoporosis treatments were clear, like a lot of other chronic conditions. I guess the best thing to do is to eat right, exercise a lot (weights, resistance which I have always done), plenty of D and calcium and vitamin C (collagen connection there) and a couple of other vitamins if your diet is lacking. My primary care doc said to exercise a lot, and then do more, and after that even more! I think thats good advice. Was hoping collagen would be a magic potion; could use help with skin and thinning hair and of course bones!