PMS and women's mood

Woman - Why PMS and the start of your period affect your mood and your body so much:

In a nutshell:

✅ Your estrogen levels drop, and female emotional well-being depends on them!

Estradiol, progesterone and testosterone drop during PMS and remain low during the first few days of bleeding, which affects regions of the brain such as the hippocampus, hypothalamus and amygdala. Changes in these hormones and regions can therefore influence mood, self-esteem and how a woman connects with other people.

Women become more impulsive (and therefore prone to taking “less considered” actions) during this period, due to the drop in oestradiol.

If your PMS (dysmenorrhea) is “worse than before”, you may need to improve your lifestyle habits (these: https://icaro.med.br/15habitos/ - as bad lifestyle habits are very detrimental to hormonal balance) or even to assess and optimize your hormones with an up-to-date and competent doctor you trust.

More here:
https://icaro.med.br/tpm/

See below for the text that motivated me to write this review:

http://essentialnutrition.com.br/conteudos/colageno-prevencao-envelhecimento

COLLAGEN: Understand how it helps prevent skin ageing.

Fine lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity are common symptoms associated with ageing skin. The accumulation of environmental exposure and a natural decrease in cell renewal contribute to other signs associated with age: dry, dull skin¹.

Certain care can improve the skin's youthful and healthy appearance.

WHAT IS COLLAGEN?

Collagen is a protein formed by a triple helix of amino acids that makes up the body's supporting fibers. It is the most abundant protein in the human body, accounting for 25% of all proteins, and is the main constituent of connective tissue, i.e. skin, tendons, cartilage and bones. Collagen is synthesized by fibroblasts (skin cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells) and osteoblasts (bone cells), and there are 23 types of collagen, of which types 1 and 3 are those present in the skin^2,3.

Due to its shape, it is a very elastic protein and is therefore able to perform its function of maintaining the resistance and elasticity of the skin, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments, preventing fractures, strains and tears in these structures. The constant repair of the collagen structure helps maintain the skin's shine and smoothness, preventing the formation of grooves that lead to wrinkles^2,4.

It's easy to see the deficiency of collagen and connective tissue in the skin. The changes seen with advancing age are directly related to changes in the quality and quantity of collagen. The connective tissue, which serves as the structural base, becomes stiffer and less elastic, leading to the appearance of atrophy, wrinkles and laxity on the skin's surface¹.

YOUTH x OXIDATIVE STRESS

Excessive sun, cigarette smoking and toxins can affect skin elasticity, but another factor has also been directly linked to skin ageing: glucose. It is fundamental to the life of the cell, as it is its fuel. However, observing the speed with which diabetic individuals age, it has been noted that chronic exposure to this simple carbohydrate stimulates a process in the body calledglycation⁵.

Glycation is a chemical process that occurs inside the body in which a protein (collagen) and a carbohydrate (glucose) react when they meet. This bond causes the collagen to be destroyed and lose its sustaining function^6-8. Evidence also shows that glycation reactions are accelerated by oxidative stress (see box) in skin cells⁹, which acts as a central factor in the events that trigger skin aging in the cell⁴.

WHAT IS OXIDATIVE STRESS? (explanatory table opposite)

“The oxygen we breathe naturally generates oxidizing compounds inside our cells. This process is necessary for the formation of energy and for cells to stay alive. In order to combat these compounds, the body has developed an antioxidant system, in other words, a system similar to “you washed it off”. These are enzymes, proteins, vitamins and minerals that restore the cell and keep us alive. Over time, the body is no longer the same and cannot recover easily, needing external help to repair its tissues.”¹⁰

The famous “free radicals” are capable of breaking down proteins (collagen), altering the skin's renewal cycle, damaging DNA and promoting the release of inflammatory cytokines - the main triggers in the generation of inflammatory changes in the skin^4,11-14.

COLLAGEN AND HORMONAL FACTORS

As well as having a lower amount of collagen than men, women suffer from hormonal issues. The deficiency of sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone, DHEA) and growth hormone that occurs in women around the age of 45-50 reduces the production of fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen).). Without tissue elasticity, the blood does not travel at the same speed and flow, reducing the blood supply to the cells, skin and sebaceous glands. These hormones in particular have a great influence on the skin^15-23.

ADVANCING AGE, GLYCATION, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND HORMONAL DECLINE: WHAT CAN I DO TO COMBAT THEM?

Together, these processes are responsible for deteriorating the skin's collagen, depleting vitamin A and C reserves and all the other stocks of antioxidants that we produce and ingest to keep our skin beautiful. Eliminating the primary factors and providing the right nutrients for the normal repair of the skin and its cells has been proven in several scientific studies. With this in mind, the field of nutrition is taking advantage of the benefits of hydrolyzed collagen, or the Collagen Peptides, It also contains specific amino acids that will act on the desired area of the body, offering many benefits.

WHAT ARE COLLAGEN PEPTIDES?

The Collagen Peptides are small groups of amino acids obtained from type 1 collagen through a production process that uses state-of-the-art technology and strict chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis controls. This facilitates the absorption of collagen and its arrival in the skin³.

HOW DO THEY IMPROVE THE SKIN?

Collagen peptides have been shown to be very effective in improving the appearance of the skin. Studies have evaluated the intake of 10g of collagen peptides per day, compared to a control group that did not consume this protein. Surprising results were obtained, including: a 28% increase in skin hydration for the 91% group after eight weeks of consumption, a 41% reduction in microrrugas for the 77% group after six weeks of consumption, and a 17% reduction in the total wrinkled surface for the 68% group after 12 weeks. The control group showed an increase of 30% in deep wrinkles after 12 weeks of study. Therefore, the intake of collagen peptides is closely linked to skin beauty indicators such as increased hydration, improved smoothness thanks to the reduction of microroughness and the prevention of deep wrinkles. These benefits are linked to the stimulation of endogenous collagen production caused by the consumption of peptides, thanks to their unique composition of peptides and amino acids³.

They can act as a source of protein, but contain specific amino acids that are essential for the skin. See the table below:

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE AVERAGE AMINO ACID VALUES OF THREE PROTEIN SOURCES3
% of amino acids	Collagen peptides	Whey protein concentrate	Soy protein isolate
Glutamic acid	11	13	19
Glycine	20	1,5	4
Hydroxyproline	12	0	0
Proline	13	4	5

SUPPLEMENTATION WITH COLLAGEN PEPTIDES, VITAMINS AND MINERALS

Food may not always be enough to provide the ideal amount of nutrients that our bodies need after the age of 30 or when we see signs such as those mentioned above.

Proksch and colleagues carried out a study to assess whether hydrolyzed collagen is effective in parameters related to skin ageing. The study evaluated 69 women aged between 35 and 55. The researchers observed that supplementation with 2.5 g or 5.0 g of hydrolyzed collagen once a day for eight weeks significantly improved the elasticity of the skin of the women taking part²⁴. However, the researchers point out that the formation of collagen in the skin, whether from food or supplementation, is associated with the intake of other nutrients, such as vitamin C and silicon^25-27.

Collagen peptide supplementation is closely linked to skin beauty indicators such as increased hydration, improved smoothness thanks to the reduction of microroughness and the prevention of deep wrinkles^28,29. These benefits are linked to the stimulation of endogenous collagen production caused by the consumption of collagen peptides, thanks to their unique composition of peptides and amino acids.^{3, 28,29}.

REFERENCES

¹Varani J,Dame MK, Rittie L, Fligiel EG, Kang S, Fisher GJ, Voorhees JJ. Decreased Collagen Production in Chronologically Aged Skin. American Journal of Pathology, Vol. 168, No. 6, June 2006.

²Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, et al. Molecular Cell Biology. 4th edition. New York: W. H. Freeman; 2000. Section 22.3, Collagen: The Fibrous Proteins of the Matrix. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21582/

³Rousselout. Benefits of taking Peptan™ collagen peptides.

⁴Masaki, H., et al. Role of antioxidants in the skin: anti-aging effects. J Dermatol Sci (2010): 85-90.

⁵van Boekel MA. The role of glycation in aging and diabetes mellitus. Mol Biol Rep. 1991 May;15(2):57-64.

⁶Pageon H et al. Collagen glycation triggers the formation of aged skin in vitro. Eur J Dermatol. 2007 Jan-Feb;17(1):12-20. Epub 2007 Feb 27.

⁷Pageon H et al. Reconstructed skin modified by glycation of the dermal equivalent as a model for skin aging and its potential use to evaluate anti-glycation molecules. Exp Gerontol. 2008 Jun;43(6):584-8. Epub 2008 Apr 7.

⁸Pageon, H. “Reaction of glycation and human skin: the effects on the skin and its components reconstructed skin as a model.” Pathol Biol . (2010): 226-31.

⁹Kikuchi S et al. Glycation-a sweet tempter for neuronal death. Brain Res Brain Res Rev. 2003 Mar;41(2-3):306-23.

¹⁰Barbosa KB, et al. Oxidative stress: concept, implications and modulatory factors. Rev. Nutr. vol.23 no.4 Campinas July/Aug. 2010.

¹¹Burke, KE., et al. “Synergistic damage by UVA radiation and pollutants.” Toxicol Ind Health (2009):219-24.

¹²Fisher, et al. “Collagen fragmentation promotes oxidative stress and elevates matrix metalloproteinase-1 in fibroblasts in aged human skin.” Amer J Pathol (2009) 101-114.

¹³Pascucci, et al. “Role of nucleotide excision repair proteins in oxidative DNA damage repair: an updating.” Biochem (2011): 4-15.

¹⁴Rock, K., et al. “Collagen fragments inhibit hyaluronan synthesis in skin fibroblasts in responseto ultraviolet B (UVB): new insights into mechanisms of matrix remodeling.” J Biol Chem (2011): 18268-76.

¹⁵Chahal, HS., et al. “The endocrine system and ageing.” J Pathol (2007):173-80.

¹⁶Makrantonaki, E., et al. “Skin and brain age together: The role of hormones in the ageing process.” Exp Gerontol (2010): 801-13.

¹⁷Makrantonaki, E., et al. “Androgens and ageing of the skin.” Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes (2009): 240-5.

¹⁸Ramos-e-Silva, M., et al. “Elderly skin and its rejuvenation: products and procedures.” J Cosmet Dermatol. (2007): 40-50.

¹⁹Verdier-Sévrain S.”Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of selective estrogen receptor modulators.” Climacteric. (2007): 289-97.

²⁰Hall G, et al. “Skin and hormone therapy.” Clin Obstet Gynecol (2004): 437-449.

²¹Phillips, T J., et al. “Hormonal effects on skin aging.” (2001): 661-672.

²²Kanda, N., et al. “Regulatory roles in sex hormones in cutaneous biology and immunology.” J Dermatol Sci (2005): 107.

²³Raine-Fenning, NJ., et al. “Skin Aging and menopause; implications for treatment.” (2003); 371-8.

²⁴Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. Epub 2013 Aug 14.

²⁵Orbe J, Rodríguez JA, Arias R, Belzunce M, Nespereira B, Pérez-Ilzarbe M, Roncal C, Páramo JA. Antioxidant vitamins increase the collagen content and reduce MMP-1 in a porcine model of atherosclerosis: implications for plaque stabilization. Atherosclerosis. 2003 Mar;167(1):45-53.

²⁶Boyera N, Galey I, Bernard BA. Effect of vitamin C and its derivatives on collagen synthesis and cross-linking by normal human fibroblasts.Int J Cosmet Sci. 1998 Jun;20(3):151-8.

²⁷Peterkofsky B. Ascorbate requirement for hydroxylation and secretion of procollagen: relationship to inhibition of collagen synthesis in scurvy. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991 Dec;54(6 Suppl):1135S-1140S.

²⁸Zague V, de Freitas V, da Costa Rosa M, de Castro GÁ, Jaeger RG, Machado-Santelli GM. Collagen hydrolysate intake increases skin collagen expression and suppresses matrix metalloproteinase 2 activity. J Med Food. 2011;14(6):618-24.

²⁹Faipoux, R. 2007. Characterization of the satieting effect of proteins and central mechanism implicated - Particular case of the yeast peptides and proteins. INA - Paris-Grignon

³⁰Zague V. A new view concerning the effects of collagen hydrolysate intake on skin properties. Arch Dermatol Res. 2008;300(9):479-83.