The Collagen Pioneer
Biomedical scientist Vanessa Craig conducted years of research before launching her product Formettā, which can have a positive effect on the ageing process. Her success proves her right.
Interview with Dr Vanessa Craig in the SonntagsZeitung of 17 March
by Antonia Blum [translated from German original article]
In appearance, Vanessa Craig could have stepped out of a novel by British author Emily Brontë: a classic “English Rose” with a radiant complexion, bright blue eyes and long, blonde hair. And a surprisingly firm handshake.
But appearances are deceptive. Vanessa Craig is anything but a fragile character from a different era. The biomedical researcher and founder of Formettā has been investigating how physical inflammation and environmental factors influence gene activity for more than ten years. As far as her appearance is concerned, however, you really can’t tell that the 43-year-old is from Australia. When I ask Vanessa about her atypical appearance after greeting her, she laughs heartily: “You should have seen me earlier. I was a classic Australian girl. Always outdoors, preferably by the sea and, of course, with a nice tan, just as it should be there.” However, this “healthy” look cost her “a lot of sunburns”, she sighs. There is no sign of this today.
Food supplements, especially collagen products, are currently all the rage. They are regarded as a real miracle cure when it comes to slowing down the ageing process. At least if you believe the numerous suppliers who offer them as powders, capsules, ampoules or creams.
But Vanessa Craig is not one of those who have only recently discovered these effects and want to market them. As a clinical researcher working in the field of epigenetics, she has been studying longevity since before this trendy term was even born. A decade ago, with no investors behind her, she began developing the dietary supplement Formettā, which was launched on the market four years ago. “It wasn’t my goal at all to become an entrepreneur,” she explains her intention at the time. “I wanted to educate people because it’s difficult to find a really good collagen powder these days.” Because she was unable to do so, she developed her own product after years of research and then passed it on to her family and friends. “The response was so good that I decided that other people should benefit from it too,” she explains her decision.
Collagen is found everywhere in the body
To understand how collagen, one of the most important proteins, works, you have to understand what it is in the first place. As a structural protein, it is found everywhere in the body and forms a kind of scaffolding with its long-chain amino acids. Three different types are particularly important: type 1 collagen makes up around ninety per cent of our body, especially in connective tissue, skin, bones, tendons and ligaments. Type 2 collagen is mainly found in elastic cartilage, which has the task of cushioning our joints. Type 3 collagen, like type 1, is found in skin and blood vessels.
“It’s important to remember that the majority of skin ageing is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle.”
The breakdown of collagen in the deeper layers of the skin begins at a young age, and its formation and regeneration also slows down. This means that the skin’s elasticity and resilience diminish. And not just on the face, but all over the body.
As our modern diet is low in collagen, we need to replenish it. “There is good news: everyone can replenish their collagen stores naturally,” explains Vanessa Craig. However, to do this we would need to eat collagen-rich foods such as animal skin and bones!” And this is where Formettā steps in, so to speak. “With collagen peptides, we replenish reserves and can thus combat damage caused by free radicals and promote cell function.” And: not only the skin, but also muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage can benefit from oral collagen supplements. Formettā focuses on improving the body’s own collagen synthesis, provides structure and stability to the various tissues – from bones to skin – and activates collagen production.
“Put simply, it’s the glue that holds us together,” says Craig. It’s important to remember that when it comes to skin ageing, for example, most of it is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. “This, along with a poor diet, can lead to hidden chronic inflammation in the body, one of the main causes of chronic disease.”
But what is the difference between the various collagen products available on the market? Craig: “There is a lot of misinformation in this area. In the case of collagen, it means that the scientifically proven dose must be ten grams per day.”
Proven to be free from harmful substances
Formettā is one of the few products on the market that contains only clinically proven ingredients, says Craig. “For a good result, I wanted the best quality peptides and nutrients in their optimal form and dosage, which must be proven to be free from harmful substances.” This is the only way the body can really benefit from collagen and channel it to the areas of the body where it is really needed.
Is quality the reason why Formettā is not cheap compared to other products? “There is no comparable product on the European market, which is partly due to the exclusive collagen peptides and partly due to the high-quality co-ingredients, which act as a catalyst to dynamise the formula,” says Craig. “We don’t use sugar, fillers or preservatives. The bioactive collagen peptides come from the skin of organic cattle.”
As the proportion of people who do not eat meat is constantly growing, so-called “vegan collagen” is increasingly being sold. Isn’t that a contradiction in terms? Vanessa Craig smiles: “Yes, that is indeed misleading, because vegan collagen does not occur in the plant world. Most vegan powders on the market work by using ingredients that stimulate the body’s own collagen synthesis. But these products are not as effective as animal collagen.”
Biomedical scientist and entrepreneur
Vanessa J Craig grew up in Australia. She studied molecular biology and genetics at the University of Sydney and graduated with honours in biochemistry. She obtained a PhD in molecular biology at the University of Zurich and patented two specific cancer therapies. She was awarded a fellowship at the Novartis Institutes of Bio Medical Research to continue her research in epigenetics. She studied nutritional sciences at Stanford University’s School of Medicine to further deepen her knowledge and gain a more holistic understanding of the interplay between nutrition, ageing and general health. In 2016, Vanessa Craig founded Formettā in Zurich to manufacture and distribute collagen products that combine bioactive collagen peptides with co-ingredients that slow down the visible signs of ageing. She also runs a personalised and evidence-based nutrition programme at the River Campus medical centre in Zurich. Vanessa Craig lives in Wädenswil with her husband and two children.