Ingredients & Research
Physicoll is formulated to support soft tissues with a blend of four types of collagen and supporting nutrients. Below is a description of each ingredient in Physicoll, their purpose in connective tissue health along with full references to published research studies.
● Collagen Types 1 and 3 (I and III)
Collagen is the primary building block of our tendons, ligaments, and skin.
Tendons: Among collagens, types I and III are the most abundant in our tendons. Type I makes up about 80%, while type III makes up about 10% of total collagen in the tendons. (1, 2).
Ligaments: Collagen type I is also a major component of ligaments, accounting for nearly 70% of the dry weight of our ligaments. (3)
Intervertebral Discs: The outer wall of the intervertebral disc, the annulus fibrosus or AF is a collagen fiber matrix which encloses the nucleus. Collagen type I makes about 70% of the dry weight of the annulus fibrosus. (4).
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a network of several molecules (including proteins) that provide support and structure to our body’s cells and tissues.
Collagen is a critical component of the ECM in our tendons, ligaments, and intervertebral discs. In the ECM, collagen fibres are arranged in bundles.
Also skin, hair and nails: The human skin is 85–90% collagen type I and 10–15% collagen type III. (5) The two primary proteins in nails are keratin and collagen type I. (6) whilst hair is made of type 1 and III collagen.
● Collagen Type 2 (II)
Intervertebral Disc (nucleus): The gel-like structure at the centre of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is the nucleus pulposus. NP absorbs and retains water giving the intervertebral disc it’s shock absorbing properties whilst supporting load from our body.
Collagen type II makes up over 85% of total collagen in the nucleus pulposus. (7) Collagen type II helps the IVD retain water. Maintaining a healthy spine and healthy discs requires adequate hydration, movement, strength in supporting muscles. As the IVD degenerates, collagen type II content decreases and collagen type I content increases, resulting in reduced water retention. (8)
Cartilage: Collagen type II is a critical component of our cartilage. Cartilage is a flexible tissue that covers the surface of our joints. Approximately 95% of total collagen in the cartilage is collagen type II. (9)
● Collagen Type 5 (V)
Type V collagen is woven into the fabric of collagen fibers. Despite constituting only about 2% of total collagen in tendons and ligaments, collagen type V is critical in determining the size (and strength) of collagen-I fibrils.
The other two major roles of collagen type V are: (10)
- Regulating fibrillogenesis (a process in which the thread-like collagen structures assemble to form a bundle) in tendons and ligaments.
- Promote joint function by strengthening joint-stabilising tendons and ligaments.
● Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient with powerful antioxidant activity.
Our body needs vitamin C to make collagen. During tendon and ligament healing, vitamin C promotes healing through its antioxidant activity. (11)
Studies show that vitamin C supplementation helps improve tendinopathy recovery. (12,13)
● Zinc
Zinc is an essential nutrient with numerous functions. Our body needs zinc for cell growth, immune function, DNA synthesis, and protein production. It is also a powerful antioxidant.
In addition to being a critical component of bone tissue, zinc also plays a crucial role in helping our body make collagen. (14) Thus, zinc supports ligament and tendon health.
Studies show that zinc supplementation can help prevent damage or improve recovery in ligament and tendon injuries. (15,16)
● Copper
Copper is an essential mineral. It is present in all body tissues and is necessary for making red blood cells (RBCs) and keeping our nerve cells and immune system healthy.
Copper is an essential micronutrient for collagen maturation. (17) It enhances cartilage formation and helps repair cartilage injury. (18)
Copper facilitates tendon regeneration, improves collagen fibre stability, and speeds up tendon healing. (19)
● Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble micronutrient. It plays a crucial role in vision, reproduction, and immune function.
Vitamin A directly affects extracellular matrix tissue synthesis. (20)
● Vit E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Vitamin E supports tendon and ligament health, as evidenced in some studies.
For example, vitamin E (with other nutrients, including vitamin C) supplementation is shown to have beneficial effects in treating chronic tendon disorders. (21)
Likewise, vitamin C and E supplementation following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery can improve recovery. (22)
● Manganese
Manganese is an essential mineral that helps our body function properly. It plays a critical role in digesting cholesterol, carbohydrates, and protein. Moreover, it is involved in growing and maintaining healthy bones.
Manganese also prevents cartilage damage and helps repair damaged cartilage. It is also essential for making type II collagen in the body. (18)
References:
- Amirrah, Ibrahim N., Yogeswaran Lokanathan, Izzat Zulkiflee, M. F. Mohd Razip Wee, Antonella Motta, and Mh Busra Fauzi. 2022. “A Comprehensive Review on Collagen Type I Development of Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering: From Biosynthesis to Bioscaffold” Biomedicines 10, no. 9: 2307. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10092307
- Ribbans, William J., Alison V. September, and Malcolm Collins. 2022. “Tendon and Ligament Genetics: How Do They Contribute to Disease and Injury? A Narrative Review” Life 12, no. 5: 663. https://doi.org/10.3390/life12050663
- Lozano, Pamela F et al. “Water-content related alterations in macro and micro scale tendon biomechanics.” Scientific reports vol. 9,1 7887. 27 May. 2019, doi:10.1038/s41598-019-44306-z
- StatPearls. (2023, August 7). Annular disc tear. https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/17615
- Wang, Hsiuying. “A Review of the Effects of Collagen Treatment in Clinical Studies.” Polymers vol. 13,22 3868. 9 Nov. 2021, doi:10.3390/polym13223868
- Saeedi, Pouya et al. “Nail Properties and Bone Health: A Review.” Journal of functional biomaterials vol. 9,2 31. 23 Apr. 2018, doi:10.3390/jfb9020031
- Wei, Yulong et al. “Spatial distribution of type II collagen gene expression in the mouse intervertebral disc.” JOR spine vol. 2,4 e1070. 19 Dec. 2019, doi:10.1002/jsp2.1070
- Liang, Huaizhen et al. “The Proteolysis of ECM in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 23,3 1715. 2 Feb. 2022, doi:10.3390/ijms23031715
- Nelson, F et al. “Evidence for altered synthesis of type II collagen in patients with osteoarthritis.” The Journal of clinical investigation vol. 102,12 (1998): 2115-25. doi:10.1172/JCI4853
- Connizzo, Brianne K et al. “Regulatory role of collagen V in establishing mechanical properties of tendons and ligaments is tissue dependent.” Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society vol. 33,6 (2015): 882-8. doi:10.1002/jor.22893
- Noriega-González, David C et al. “Effect of Vitamin C on Tendinopathy Recovery: A Scoping Review.” Nutrients vol. 14,13 2663. 27 Jun. 2022, doi:10.3390/nu14132663
- Dincel, Yasar Mahsut et al. “EFFECTS OF HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN C AND HYALURONIC ACID ON TENDON HEALING.” Acta ortopedica brasileira vol. 26,2 (2018): 82-85. doi:10.1590/1413-785220182602182353
- Noriega-González, David C et al. “Effect of Vitamin C on Tendinopathy Recovery: A Scoping Review.” Nutrients vol. 14,13 2663. 27 Jun. 2022, doi:10.3390/nu14132663
- Molenda, M., Kolmas, J. The Role of Zinc in Bone Tissue Health and Regeneration—a Review. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 5640–5651 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-03631-1
- Edwin, S. (2023). Ligaments Importance for Maintaining Mobility and Prevention from Injury. Longdom. https://doi.org/10.35841/2329-9509.23.11.369
- Hijlkema, Aveline et al. “The impact of nutrition on tendon health and tendinopathy: a systematic review.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 19,1 474-504. 3 Aug. 2022, doi:10.1080/15502783.2022.2104130
- Chakraborty, Montosh et al. “Serum Copper as a Marker of Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis.” Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR vol. 9,12 (2015): BC09-11. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/14851.7001
- Li, Guoyong et al. “The Impact of Trace Elements on Osteoarthritis.” Frontiers in medicine vol. 8 771297. 23 Dec. 2021, doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.771297
- Milewska, Marta et al. “Copper Does Not Induce Tenogenic Differentiation but Promotes Migration and Increases Lysyl Oxidase Activity in Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.” Stem cells international vol. 2020 9123281. 20 Feb. 2020, doi:10.1155/2020/9123281
- Tack C, Shorthouse F, Kass L. The Physiological Mechanisms of Effect of Vitamins and Amino Acids on Tendon and Muscle Healing: A Systematic Review. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2018 May 1;28(3):294-311. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0267. Epub 2018 Jun 1. PMID: 29140140.
- Mavrogenis, S., Johannessen, E., Jensen, P., & Sindberg, C. (2004). The effect of essential fatty acids and antioxidants combined with physiotherapy treatment in recreational athletes with chronic tendon disorders. Physical Therapy in Sport, 5(4), 194–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2004.06.002
- Barker, T., & Traber, M. G. (2011). Does vitamin E and C supplementation improve the recovery from anterior cruciate ligament surgery? Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 16(2), 114–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210110392954