It's rare that a supplement could be recommended to virtually anyone and everyone. But unlike other dietary supplements that you may or may not be deficient in, and that you may or may not be able to absorb, every human and mammal for that matter needs collagen. Collagen is already the most abundant protein in the body. It's in nearly every connective tissue from the muscles, to the skin and joints. But despite it being the most abundant protein, our bodies can't produce collagen at a steady rate forever. No matter where you are at in life (age and health-wise) here are some reasons why you could probably benefit from boosting your collagen levels.
What is the role of collagen?
As a structural protein, collagen has a hefty role. It joins with other collagen molecules to provide a network of "scaffolding" that supports the structure of the muscles, blood vessels, skin, joints, bowels, and more. One perfect example that illustrates the role of collagen is in skin health. When we are young, the skin is bouncy, firm, and smooth. Up until age 25 or so, the body produces collagen at a steady rate. From here, the amount of collagen our body can store and produce begins to drop. The result is sagging, thin, and wrinkled skin. This drop in collagen production also causes the other connective tissues to become thin and worn, which can cause joint pain, muscle atrophy, arterial stiffness and Atherosclerosis, and losses in bone mineral density.