Collagen supplements have gained popularity for their potential to support skin elasticity, joint health, and overall vitality. As the most abundant protein in the body, collagen plays a key role in maintaining the structure of skin, bones, and connective tissues. However, natural collagen production declines with age, leading many to turn to supplements derived from bovine, marine, or poultry sources. These supplements, often in hydrolyzed form for better absorption, may help reduce wrinkles, improve skin hydration, and support joint function. For best results, they are commonly paired with vitamin C, which aids collagen synthesis in the body.
Type Ⅰ collagen is the most common type of collagen found in the body. It is prevalent in connective tissue such as skin, nails and hair. It accounts for 90% of the body’s collagen stores. Type Ⅰ collagen is also common in most supplements as it has a wide variety of benefits. Research has shown that this collagen may be used to increase development of bone mineral crystals.
Type Ⅱ collagen is a less common type of collagen found in the body. It is the main component of cartilage in joints such as knees and wrists providing structure and flexibility. Studies have found that supplementation with type Ⅱ collagen helped to reduce pain in patients with osteoarthritis in conjunction with acetaminophen (Panado). Type Ⅱ collagen structure is loosely packed compared to type Ⅰ collagen, therefore the body breaks down and absorbs this collagen more easily. More research needs to be conducted for type Ⅱ collagen benefits on healthy joint inflammation response, rebuilding of damaged joint cartilage and increases in range of motion.
Type Ⅲ collagen is the second most common type of collagen found in the body. It contains a singular alpha chain, while type Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagen have multiple alpha chains. It is found in muscles, blood vessels and organs such as the intestines and uterus. Type Ⅲ collagen assists with wound healing. Bovine collagen supplements provide a good source of type Ⅲ collagen.
Type Ⅴ collagen is found naturally in the cornea and assist with transmission of light. This type of collagen works together with type Ⅰ and Ⅲ and is responsible for optimal fibrillary formation (definition) and tissue quality in the body. Type Ⅴ collagen assists with bone health by supporting the bone matrix.
Type Ⅹ collagen is responsible for bone formation and can be found in joint cartilage. It has been found that people with a high amount of type Ⅹ collagen have a high risk of developing rheumatological disorders affecting bone and cartilage.
Bovine collagen contains type Ⅰ and Ⅲ and is responsible for for skin elasticity and hydration. Marine collagen contains type Ⅰ and Ⅱ and is thought to improve skin and cartilage health, UV protection and skin healing, but more research needs to confirm this. Collagen from chicken contains type Ⅱ and the eggshell membrane contains type Ⅰ and Ⅴ. Chicken collagen assists with joint, cartilage and ligament health by supporting the body's inflammatory response.
Collagen comes in many different forms including a powder, liquid and capsule type. The powder form generally consists of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen and is 10g per serving. The liquid form also consists of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen with 10g per serving. The capsule form consists of type Ⅱ collagen and is 1200mg per serving. There are exceptions to this, with a few products containing both type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ collagen but this tends not to be the norm.
The patented forms of collagen include Fortigel™, Peptan™, AminoLock Sequence Technology™ and BioCell Collagen II™. It is important to look out for these types of collagen in products as they are scientifically based and of superior quality.
Fortigel™ is developed by Gelita and is an innovative ingredient for the regeneration of joint cartilage. Specific collagen peptides of Fortigel™ have been proven to activate the growth of new cartilage by stimulating cells helping to ease joint discomfort and make the joints smooth and mobile. Fortigel™ stimulates a significant increase of cartilage tissue metabolism.
Peptan™ collagen, developed by Rousselot Health and Nutrition, is currently the world’s number 1 brand of collagen peptides (hydrolyzed collagen) confirmed by NutraIngredients State of the Industry Survey 2020. Hydrolyzed collagen is collagen that has been broken down into more easily dissolvable amino acids. This type of collagen has excellent digestibility and efficient absorption , making this product have a high bioavailability. This means that when Peptan™ is absorbed, it becomes highly available in our bloodstream, even as quickly as just one hour after intake.
AminoLock Sequence Technology™ developed by Genacol, provides a collagen that is ultra-hydrolyzed at less than one kilodalton (kDa), which is the lowest molecular weight in the world. Unlike hydrolyzed collagen (the body struggles to absorb), the peptides in AminoLock Collagen™ are small and cross the barrier of the digestive system more easily (superior bioavailability).
BioCell Collagen II™ is composed of hydrolyzed collagen type II peptides (chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid). This collagen promotes active joints, tendons and ligaments, youthful skin and healthy connective tissues. BioCell Collagen II™ utilizes a patented Bio-Optimization™ process, which ensures effective bioavailability and rapid absorption in the body. BioCell Collagen II™ is only made in the USA and Germany.
Unfortunately there are no vegetarian sources of collagen. However there are collagen booster products available that contain nutritional co-factors and specific amino acids which assists your body to build healthy and resilient collagen in conjunction with using the amino acids from your regular diet. These nutritional co-factors include vitamin C, zinc amino, chelate and manganese amino acid chelate, vitamin B6 and B7 and horsetail plant extract. The collagen booster products also includes the following amino acids source from clean, non-inflammatory plant-based sources: glycine and proline (2 main components of collagen), serine (involved in glycine formation), lysine (assists with conversion of collagen fibers in to their functional forms) and glutamine (important building block for collagen).
AC Phytocoll PF is free of animal proteins and duplicates the aesthetics of mammalian collagen while delivering enhanced levels of moisture to the skin or hair without the associated issues of using an animal base product. This enhanced level of moisture binding ability can be attributed to the presence of the sugars, which are typically absent of mammalian collagens.
Collagen contains hydroxyproline amino acids which can increase the amounts of oxalate (waste product) in the body. Oxalates can cause kidney stones but the amount of hydroxyproline in collagen is unlikely to increase your risk. Patients with a history of having calcium oxalate kidney stones should avoid overuse of collagen supplements or adhere to the recommended dosage (5-6 g per day). Always consult your doctor if you are unsure if collagen supplements are safe for you. People with allergies to fish or chicken should also consult their doctor before taking supplements containing Type II collagen.
Specific types of collagen have a beneficial impact on certain structures of the body as explained in the different types of collagen section. It appears now with further research that there is some crossover effect. So if you are taking type I collagen for hair, skin and nails, in a high enough dose (minimum 10g/10 000mg) , that there will be some benefit to joints as well. This generally does not work in reverse with type II collagen as the dose for joints (1200mg) is much lower.
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