The ZRT Laboratory Blog

Collagen - A Primary Cause of Wrinkles & Aging Skin

Fri, 31 Jul 2015 09:58:00 -0700

One of the most common signs associated with advancing age is wrinkling, thinning, and sagging of the skin.

Several different internal and external processes can contribute to these signs. However, one of the main culprits responsible for the seemingly unavoidable loss of skin vitality that occur with age is the loss of collagen.

Collagen

Collagen is the main structural protein found in all connective tissues of people and animals. Collagen supports surrounding tissues giving them structural integrity. Collagen is contained within the extracellular matrix of the connective tissue layer underneath the skin, providing strength and form to the skin. We experience this as full, firm, smooth, wrinkle-free skin that bounces back after being stretched.

A closer look at the structure of connective tissue:

Contained within the connective tissue that lies beneath the skin are cells and the extracellular matrix, the “filling” between the cells. The extracellular matrix is comprised of two main components: proteins (including collagen – pictured as pink fibers above) and a fluid or gel-like substance which serves to retain moisture as well as give tissues padding (illustrated in grey above). The gel-like substance is teaming with glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s) which are protein/polysaccharide molecules which act as a lubricant and a shock absorber to the tissues.

Collagen proteins make up 30% of the proteins within the body. Apart from the skin, collagen is also the main structural protein in cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bone, intervertebral discs, etc. Other common complaints with aging which are related to collagen loss are stiff joints, degeneration of tendons, bone, and discs, and other musculoskeletal issues.

Why do we lose collagen as we age?

Many factors affect our collagen levels. The main culprits are poor nutrition, decreasing hormone levels, stress and excess cortisol, poor hydration, smoking, sun damage, and altered sugar metabolism. This group could be referred to as “collagen killers.”

Factors known to support collagen synthesis are:

Diet (water, protein, omega three fats, colorful vegetables and fruits containing minerals, antioxidants, and other phytochemicals);
Hormones (estrogens, phytoestrogens and lower/normal cortisol);
Lifestyle (exercise, decreased stress and reduce sun exposure);
Nutrients (e.g. vitamin C, vitamin A);
Healthy blood insulin and glucose levels

Other processes that contribute to wrinkles:

Decreased hyaluronic acid and other GAG’s (glycosominoglycans)
Increased AGE’s (advanced glycation end-products associated with higher simple carbohydrate intake and resultant increased blood sugar levels)
Increased free radicals (oxidation)
Increased inflammation (via eicosanoids)

Estrogen

Estrogen increases moisture, elasticity, and thickness (i.e. collagen) of the skin. Estrogen used topically or systemically can increase the production of collagen. Estrogen maintains moisture by increasing GAG’s (glycosaminoglycans) like hyaluronic acid in the gel-like substance of the extracellular matrix. By affecting both structural integrity through collagen synthesis and fluid balance through GAG synthesis, estrogen is a potent protector against wrinkle formation.

Interestingly, there have been studies that indicate that estrogen therapy can restore skin health in aging skin, but not if it has sustained significant sun damage.

Stress management might possibly be the most important thing one can do to slow the aging process on the skin and throughout the entire body.

Another Strike against Stress

Stress adversely affects collagen in that excess cortisol down regulates the synthesis of collagen. So when we’re going, going, going and not taking the time to rest, reflect and regenerate, our cortisol levels soar and we inadvertently wear down our collagen reserves, resulting in weaker, thinner and less abundant connective tissue throughout the body - including the skin!

Stress with elevated cortisol also indirectly contributes to wrinkling and other factors affecting skin health by increasing free radical formation, inflammation, and AGE formation.

With stress one might experience:

more oil production leading to acne;
craving for sweets which leads to higher blood glucose levels and ultimately increased glycation end-products (AGE’s);
increased inflammatory cytokines which negatively affect wound healing and skin regeneration and may lead to more itching, redness, and swelling;
enhanced free radical load which damages skin through oxidation

All of the above lead to skin damage, decreased collagen synthesis, wrinkling, and aging of the skin. Stress management might possibly be the most important thing one can do to slow the aging process on the skin and throughout the entire body.

Action Steps – What can you do right now to ensure healthy skin for years to come?

Assess/test and balance your hormone levels if needed
Assess/test your cortisol levels and treat accordingly if elevated or otherwise abnormal
Implement a plan for decreasing stress and managing it appropriately when it does occur
Eat a well-rounded diet with abundant and varied fruits, vegetables, good fats, and proteins and supplement with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients as indicated
Exercise regularly to increase blood circulation and enhance detoxification through perspiration
Drink plenty of water
Stop smoking
Monitor time spent in the sun, covering up when exposure is strong or prolonged
Keep your blood sugars in check by eliminating simple sugars from the diet and getting treatment if ongoing issues with insulin resistance or diabetes

Ultimately the steps you take toward enhancing the health of your skin, including optimizing collagen production, are pretty much the same steps recommended for improving energy, mood, memory, weight, and overall vitality. Here’s to looking and feeling your best!

Continue the discussion:

Breaking News: U.S. Senate Approves Naturopathic Medicine Week

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 02:43:00 -0700

For the first time ever, naturopathic medicine gets a legislative boost with its own celebratory week.

During this week - October 7-13 - naturopathic doctors and their supporters, colleagues and fans will have the chance to laud the benefits of naturopathic medicine while basking in the light of a new public awareness. And it's nationally recognized!

Finally, the inherent value of naturopathic medicine has been acknowledged by key players in the US Senate as a means of providing safe, effective and affordable healthcare. Additionally, it offers a sound method for addressing the nation's increasing healthcare needs, while also helping curb the current shortage of primary care physicians.

The Clinical Consultants department at ZRT is staffed 100% by naturopathic physicians - Dr. Alison McAllister, Dr. Sherry LaBeck, and Dr. Julie Verfurth.

Our NDs answer ZRT provider phone calls, review and interpret patient lab results, and work alongside laboratory and marketing staff to develop tests and write clinically relevant educational materials.

Naturopathic physicians fit so well into the execution of ZRT's mission for many reasons. At the heart of it is the naturopathic commitment to treating the whole person by the least invasive means possible, while trying to find the root cause of what is affecting the patient.

Dr. David Zava, PhD, founder of ZRT Laboratory, has long recognized the vital role that naturopaths play in a preventative health model based on wellness and patient-centered care - a model that inspired his own work in salivary hormone testing years ago. Ever passionate about discovering what's going on at a cellular level, Dr. Zava continues to research and develop testing that will help direct patient treatment toward obtaining optimal physiological balance.

NDs are trained as primary care, general practice physicians. They treat most medical conditions, order standard and specialty lab tests, perform minor surgery, utilize prescription drugs if needed, make referrals to other healthcare providers, and are covered by insurance companies in some states.

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of medicine that is defined by its philosophy and the use of an eclectic mix of natural therapies - homeopathy, nutrition, herbs, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, etc. - to bring about health and balance.

The tenets of naturopathic medicine include:

Healing power of nature - honoring the body's natural inclination and ability to heal itself
First do no harm - using natural healing modalities, which benefit the body and minimize adverse side effects
Identify and treat the cause of disease - addressing the root cause of ill health as opposed to treating only symptoms
Heal the whole person - supporting all aspects of health: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental
Prevention is the best cure - promoting healthy diet and lifestyle choices to prevent serious, chronic disease and to optimize wellness
Doctor as teacher - providing education about health and disease to patients

Licensed naturopathic physicians attend a four-year graduate-level naturopathic medical school. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, they are trained in clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, physical medicine, Chinese medicine, and mind-body medicine including stress-management and counseling.

To achieve licensure, a naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams. Naturopathic physicians are currently licensed in 16 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and six Canadian provinces. Licensed naturopathic physicians must also fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually.

The clinical consultants at ZRT are excited and honored to see this significant resolution pass. To celebrate, we will continue to do what we always do: educate patients, recommend supportive measures for overall health, suggest testing aimed at uncovering the heart of what's going on, model healthy living, and deepen our knowledge about normal physiology and the things that impact it positively and negatively.

Will you join us in promoting the virtues of a system of medicine that is preventative, minimally-invasive, lower cost, very effective, and has true wellness for everybody as its goal?

Let us know how you intend to celebrate this week. Some simple ideas: talk to a friend about naturopathic medicine, read a book about homeopathy, make an appointment with an ND, attend a local health talk, make a medicinal herbal tea, or eat a hearty kale salad.

Bring naturopathic medicine into your life this week and plan on welcoming it into our healthcare system soon - because naturopathic medicine is seemingly here to stay.

To find an ND in your area or to get more information about naturopathic medicine, visit the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and search under "Find an ND" or search to see if there is a state association where you live.

Read about naturopathic medicine in more detail.

Information on accredited naturopathic schools can be found at the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges website.