GELATIN

OTHER NAME(S):

Colla Corii Asini, Collagen Hydrolysate, Collagen Peptides, Collagène Dénaturé, Collagène Hydrolysé, Collagène Marin Hydrolysé, Denatured Collagen, Ejiao, Gelatina, Gelatine, Gélatine, Gélatine Hydrolysée, Hydrolised Collagen, Hydrolysed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen Protein, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Marine Collagen Hydrolysate, Protéine de Collagène Hydrolysé.<br/><br/>

Overview

Overview Information

Gelatin is a protein made from animal products.

Gelatin is used for aging skin and joint pain. It is also used for many other conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis), and brittle nails, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In manufacturing, gelatin is used for preparation of foods, cosmetics, and medicines.

How does it work?

Gelatin is made from collagen. Collagen is one of the materials that make up cartilage and bone. Some people think gelatin might help for arthritis and other joint conditions. The chemicals in gelatin called amino acids can be absorbed in the body.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Possibly Effective for

  • Aging skin. Some research shows that taking specific gelatin products (Wellnex, Nitta Gelatin) 5 grams daily, mixed into a hot beverage, improves skin moisture and wrinkles in women with aging skin.

Insufficient Evidence for

  • A blood disorder that reduces levels of protein in the blood called hemoglobin (beta-thalassemia). Early research in pregnant women with a mild form of this blood disorder shows that taking gelatin made from donkey hide improves hemoglobin levels.
  • Joint pain. Some research shows that taking gelatin daily reduces pain during athletic activity in athletes that have knee pain. But gelatin does not improve pain at rest. Taking gelatin does not seem to reduce joint pain in older adults with general knee pain.
  • Osteoarthritis. Some research shows that gelatin might relieve pain and improve joint function in people with osteoarthritis. But not all research agrees.
  • Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis).
  • Improving hair quality.
  • Muscle damage caused by exercise.
  • Strengthening bones and joints.
  • Brittle nails.
  • Obesity.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of gelatin for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

When taken by mouth: Gelatin is LIKELY SAFE for most people in food amounts. The larger amounts used in medicine are POSSIBLY SAFE. There's some evidence that gelatin in doses up to 10 grams daily can be safely used for up to 6 months.

Gelatin can cause an unpleasant taste, sensation of heaviness in the stomach, bloating, heartburn, and belching. Gelatin can also cause allergic reactions. In some people, allergic reactions have been severe enough to damage the heart and cause death.

There is some concern about the safety of gelatin because it comes from animal sources. Some people are worried that unsafe manufacturing practices might lead to contamination of gelatin products with diseased animal tissues including those that might transmit mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). Although this risk seems to be low, many experts advise against using animal-derived supplements like gelatin.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy: A specific type of gelatin that is made from donkey hide is POSSIBLY SAFE in the larger amounts used as medicine. Not enough is known about the safety of other kinds of gelatin when used in medicinal amounts during pregnancy. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the safety of gelatin when used in medicinal amounts during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Interactions

Interactions?

We currently have no information for GELATIN Interactions.

Dosing

Dosing

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

  • For aging skin: 5 grams of gelatin (Wellnex, Nitta Gelatin) has been used daily for 8 weeks.

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View References

REFERENCES:

  • Morganti P, Randazzo S Bruno C. Effect of gelatin/cystine diet on human hair growth. J Soc Cosmetic Chem (England) 1982;33:95-96.
  • Morganti, P and Fanrizi, G. Effects of gelatin-glycine on oxidative stress. Cosmetics and Toiletries (USA) 2000;115:47-56.
  • No authors listed. A randomized trial comparing the effect of prophylactic intravenous fresh frozen plasma, gelatin or glucose on early mortality and morbidity in preterm babies. The Northern Neonatal Nursing Initiative [NNNI] Trial Group. Eur J Pediatr. 1996;155(7):580-588. View abstract.
  • Unknown author. Clinical trial finds Knox NutraJoint has benefits in mild osteoarthritis. 10-1-2000.
  • Benito-Ruiz P, Camacho-Zambrano MM, Carrillo-Arcentales JN, et al. A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy and safety of a food ingredient, collagen hydrolysate, for improving joint comfort. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2009;60 Suppl 2:99-113. View abstract.
  • Bernardo MLR, Azarcon Jr, AC. A randomized controlled trial on the effects of oral collagen treatment on the medial knee joint space and functional outcome among veterans memorial medical center patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee. PARM Proceedings 2012;4(1):1-8.
  • Brown KE, Leong K, Huang CH, et al. Gelatin/chondroitin 6-sulfate microspheres for the delivery of therapeutic proteins to the joint. Arthritis Rheum 1998;41:2185-95. View abstract.
  • Bruyère O, Zegels B, Leonori L, et al. Effect of collagen hydrolysate in articular pain: a 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. Complement Ther Med. 2012 Jun;20(3):124-30. View abstract.
  • de la Fuente Tornero E, Vega Castro A, de Sierra Hernández PÁ, et al. Kounis syndrome during anesthesia: Presentation of indolent systemic mastocytosis: A case report. A Case Rep. 2017;8(9):226-228. View abstract.
  • Djagny VB, Wang Z, Xu S. Gelatin: a valuable protein for food and pharmaceutical industries: review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2001;41(6):481-92. View abstract.
  • Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
  • Gelatin Manufacturers Institute of America. Gelatin Handbook. 2012. Available at: http://www.gelatin-gmia.com/gelatinhandbook.html. Accessed September 9, 2016.
  • Inoue N, Sugihara F, Wang X. Ingestion of bioactive collagen hydrolysates enhance facial skin moisture and elasticity and reduce facial ageing signs in a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study. J Sci Food Agric. 2016;96(12):4077-81. View abstract.
  • Kakimoto K, Kojima Y, Ishii K, et al. The suppressive effect of gelatin-conjugated superoxide dismutase on disease development and severity of collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Clin Exp Immunol 1993;94:241-6. View abstract.
  • Kelso JM. The gelatin story. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:200-2. View abstract.
  • Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.
  • Li Y, He H, Yang L, Li X, Li D, Luo S. Therapeutic effect of Colla corii asini on improving anemia and hemoglobin compositions in pregnant women with thalassemia. Int J Hematol. 2016;104(5):559-565. View abstract.
  • Moskowitz RW. Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease.Semin Arthritis Rheum 2000;30:87-99. View abstract.
  • Nakayama T, Aizawa C, Kuno-Sakai H. A clinical analysis of gelatin allergy and determination of its causal relationship to the previous administration of gelatin-containing acellular pertussis vaccine combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:321-5.
  • Oesser S, Seifert J. Stimulation of type II collagen biosynthesis and secretion in bovine chondrocytes cultured with degraded collagen. Cell Tissue Res 2003;311:393-9.. View abstract.
  • PDR Electronic Library. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2001.
  • Sakaguchi M, Inouye S. Anaphylaxis to gelatin-containing rectal suppositories. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108:1033-4. View abstract.
  • Schwick HG, Heide K. Immunochemistry and immunology of collagen and gelatin. Bibl Haematol 1969;33:111-25. View abstract.
  • Su K, Wang C. Recent advances in the use of gelatin in biomedical research. Biotechnol Lett 2015;37(11):2139-45. View abstract.
  • Ventura Spagnolo E, Calapai G, Minciullo PL, Mannucci C, Asmundo A, Gangemi S. Lethal anaphylactic reaction to intravenous gelatin in the course of surgery. Am J Ther. 2016;23(6):e1344-e1346. View abstract.
  • Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Gollhofer A, König D. Improvement of activity-related knee joint discomfort following supplementation of specific collagen peptides. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017;42(6):588-595. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2018.