You’ve heard of collagen, but what about type II collagen? Type II collagen is an essential component in the building and maintenance of cartilage, giving cartilage its tensile strength and elasticity. This provides needed joint support. In the article below, we’ll discuss in greater detail what type II collagen is, as well as what it is responsible for.
What’s the Difference Between Type I and Type II Collagen?
Both type I and type II collagens are comprised of three long amino acid chains. However, this is where the similarities end. The difference lies in their molecular composition. Where type I collagen is concerned, only two of the three amino acid chains are identical. In type II collagen, on the other hand, all three amino acid chains are identical.
Another difference is where the collagen works its magic. Type I collagen acts on the skin and bones, whereas type II collagen is found exclusively within cartilage.
What Makes Type II Collagen So Beneficial?
Cartilage is essential in having healthy joints, as it provides cushion that prevents damage and pain that’s associated with cartilage loss. Without healthy cartilage between your joints, a person will experience less shock absorption, painful friction between joints, and diminished connections between bones. With that information in mind, it’s not hard to see why type II collagen is so important. You want to have healthy cartilage throughout your life.
And type II collagen is the main substance found within cartilage.
Type II collagen reinforces the cartilage in joints by forming a fiber network that is both tough yet flexible, allowing for shock absorption and more comfortable joint movements.
More and more people are seeking out natural ways to maintain the presence of type II collagen inside of their bodies, as cartilage loss or damage can often be irreversible.
The problem with cartilage is that it does not receive nutrients from the blood inside of the body. Nutrients can, in small amounts, be diffused into cartilage via the connective tissue surrounding it, but that is often not enough to keep the cartilage in one’s joints in great shape.
Type II collagen peptides have been shown to reduce inflammation within joints, which can compromise the elasticity of the cartilage there. While type II collagen cannot make new cartilage form, taking it at the onset of joint pain symptoms (like in the case of sufferers of osteoarthritis) can extend the life and durability of cartilage.
While the benefits of type II collagen peptide supplements are becoming increasingly well-known, there is still much left to learn about the potential uses of this substance. As it stands right now, type II collagen seems to be a promising peptide that can slow down degenerative joint damage in pain sufferers.
