你加进咖啡里的胶原蛋白粉，科学家的解释来了

Collagen products are popping up everywhere. While collagen is probably most well known for its touted skin care benefits and as a major component of lip enhancers and injections, some celebrities, like Kourtney Kardashian, are suggesting that people drink it.

胶原蛋白产品到处都是。虽然胶原蛋白可能最为人所熟知的，是它所标榜的护肤功效，以及作为唇部强化剂和注射剂的主要成分，但一些名人，如考特尼·卡戴珊，建议人们饮用它。

Products derived from collagen are not just in skin creams and dietary supplements but even in pillow covers and clothing. Kardashian is even sellingcollagen supplements.

胶原蛋白产品不仅存在于护肤霜和膳食补充剂中，甚至还存在于枕套和衣物中。卡戴珊甚至在卖胶原蛋白补充剂。

Collagen is the body's most abundant protein, made up of amino acids, or peptides. It literally glues our bones, cartilage, skin and blood vessels together. It's what makes our tissues grow, mature and move. Its presence under your skin can keep it from sagging over time.

胶原蛋白是人体最丰富的蛋白质，由氨基酸或肽组成。它把我们的骨头、软骨、皮肤和血管粘在一起。它使我们的组织生长、成熟和移动。它在你皮肤下的存在可以防止它随着时间的推移而下垂。

Because our bodies begin to lose collagen in our 20s, skin creams and treatments made from the connective tissues of animals seem like an effective way to combat age. And, it has few side effects.

因为我们的身体在20多岁时开始失去胶原蛋白，所以用动物的结缔组织制成的护肤霜和治疗方法似乎是对抗年龄的有效方法。而且，它几乎没有副作用。

But there's a catch – or two. As a female interested in aging gracefully and as a scientist who studies collagen, I have found the plethora of collagen-based products to be interesting. I have been involved with studying collagen for over a decade as our lab is working to develop a collagen made solely in a laboratory instead of sourcing from animals.

但有一个或两个难题。作为一名对优雅衰老感兴趣的女性，以及一名研究胶原蛋白的科学家，我发现大量基于胶原蛋白的产品非常有趣。我从事胶原蛋白研究已经超过十年了，因为我们的实验室正在致力于开发一种胶原蛋白，这种胶原蛋白完全是在实验室中制造的，而不是从动物身上提取的。

I have asked other collagen-knowledgeable colleagues what they think of everyone putting it in their coffee, and I get some smirks.

我问过其他了解胶原蛋白的同事，他们对每个人在咖啡中加入胶原蛋白有什么看法，我得到了一些假笑。

Collagen for arthritis and healing wounds

用于关节炎和愈合伤口的胶原蛋白

Starting in our 20s, our bodies produce less collagen, causing our skin to sag and wrinkle, our bones and joints to weaken and stiffen, and our hair to become thinner. A diet high in sugar, excessive sun exposure and smoking also diminish collagen levels.

从20多岁开始，我们的身体产生的胶原蛋白减少，导致我们的皮肤下垂和皱纹，我们的骨骼和关节变弱和僵硬，我们的头发变细。高糖饮食、过度的阳光照射和吸烟也会降低胶原蛋白水平。

Collagen's molecular structure is something called a complex triple helix, like three pieces of rope twisted together. Certain molecular interactions require a triple helix shape in order to function. There are about 30 different types.

胶原蛋白的分子结构是一种复杂的三螺旋结构，就像三条绳子缠绕在一起。某些分子间的相互作用需要三螺旋形状才能起作用。大约有30种不同的类型。

The vast majority of the collagen in our bodies, however, is of three types: type 1, which gives skin its firmness; type II, which makes up our movable joints; and type III, which gives tissue its elasticity.

然而，我们身体中绝大多数的胶原蛋白有三种类型：1型，使皮肤变得紧实;2型，构成我们活动的关节;3型，使组织具有弹性。

Most of the studies of collagen have focused on arthritis and wound healing, and collagen supplements have been found to be effective. While very little research has been done on other applications, it is likely that collagen taken orally diminishes the molecules that lead to inflammation and disease.

大多数关于胶原蛋白的研究都集中在关节炎和伤口愈合上，胶原蛋白补充剂已经被发现是有效的。虽然在其他方面的研究很少，但口服胶原蛋白可能会减少导致炎症和疾病的分子。

What you should know about that hot drink

关于饮用胶原蛋白你应该知道些什么

The collagen molecule itself is too large to penetrate the surface of the skin when applied in a cream or lotion. It just sits there until it's washed off. Soluble or hydrolyzed collagen, which is broken down into smaller fragments, does penetrate the skin, but these fragments are likely too small to do any good.

胶原蛋白分子本身太大，当应用于乳膏或乳液时，并不能渗透到皮肤表面，它只是呆在那里直到被冲走。可溶或水解的胶原蛋白，被分解成更小的碎片，确实能穿透皮肤，但这些碎片可能太小，对皮肤没有任何好处。

Likely, a skin improvement is due to additional ingredients in your topical cream or simply additional proline, an amino acid found in collagen.

很可能，皮肤的改善是由于你面霜中的额外成分，或者仅仅是额外的脯氨酸，一种在胶原蛋白中发现的氨基酸。

In addition, collagen falls apart at temperatures above body temperature, turning it into plain gelatin – yes, the stuff in Jell-O. At these higher temperatures – when added to hot coffee, for example – collagen's molecular structure melts, diminishing or even negating the desired health benefits.

此外，胶原蛋白在高于体温的温度下会分解，变成纯明胶——是的，就是果冻里的东西。在更高的温度下——例如，当加入热咖啡中——胶原蛋白的分子结构会融化，人们所期望的健康益处会减少甚至完全没有。