Short Answer: Collagen is good for vitiligo. Because it has amino acids like glycine and proline that can stimulate melanin production and repair skin cells.
Vitiligo is a condition that affects your skin, hair and mucous membranes.
It causes patches of skin to lose their color or pigment, making them appear white or lighter than your natural skin tone.
In vitiligo, your body’s immune system attacks and destroys the melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes their color.
This can lead to various health problems, such as depression, sensitivity of skin, skin cancer and inflammation of the iris.
One of the key factors in managing vitiligo is diet.
What you consume can affect your melanin production, which can impact your vitiligo symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage vitiligo, you should consume antioxidant-rich foods like berries, green tea and dark chocolate and avoid inflammatory foods like processed meats, dairy and gluten.
Now, collagen is a protein that provides structure and strength to your skin, bones, tendons and ligaments.
People usually take collagen supplements or add collagen powder to their beverages or foods to improve their skin health, joint pain and bone density.
Collagen is good for vitiligo because it contains amino acids like glycine and proline that are essential for melanin synthesis.
Collagen also helps repair damaged skin cells and maintain skin elasticity.
One scoop of collagen powder can give you about 9 grams of protein (18% of your daily needs), 0.6 grams of glycine (30% of your daily needs) and 0.5 grams of proline (25% of your daily needs).
Glycine can positively affect vitiligo by stimulating the activity of tyrosinase, the enzyme that converts tyrosine into melanin.
Proline can positively affect vitiligo by enhancing the stability and function of melanocytes.
Furthermore, collagen is a type of animal protein and animal protein is good for vitiligo.
Because, animal protein provides high-quality amino acids that are necessary for melanin production.
You can eat or drink one to two scoops of collagen powder per day safely. More than that can cause digestive issues like bloating, constipation or diarrhea.
Also, you shouldn’t eat or drink collagen if you have an allergy to the source of collagen (such as cow, pig, chicken or fish) to prevent an allergic reaction. Because collagen may contain traces of the animal tissue it is derived from.
You can buy collagen powder online as well as offline.
To buy it online, there are many brands and marketplace to choose from. But as a nutritionist, I recommend Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides from Amazon (Link). Because they are made from grass-fed bovine hide and contain no additives or preservatives.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing vitiligo effectively.
I always recommend my vitiligo patients to follow a vitiligo-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.