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Marine collagen: is it really better than bovine collagen?
In the quest for youthful skin, strong hair and firm nails, collagen supplements have become very popular. We all want firm, fresh-looking skin with a healthy glow for as long as possible. A lot of claims about collagen are circulating on social media. One of them is the widespread claim that marine collagen or fish collagen is better than bovine collagen. But is this claim really true?
In this article, we'll dive into the interesting world of this important protein. In particular, we'll take a closer look at the difference between collagen from fish or beef. In doing so, we highlight the essential function of hydrolysis.
What exactly is collagen?
Collagen is a type of protein most commonly found in the human body. To be precise, it accounts for around 30% of our total protein content. Collagen is sometimes called the glue of our body because it's a crucial structural element of our skin, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. There are at least 16 different types of collagen, but broadly speaking we talk about type I, II and III.
- Collagen type I is found in skin, tendons, blood vessels, organs and bones.
- Collagen type II is mostly found in cartilage.
- Collagen type III is found in reticular fibres such as bone marrow.
Collagen production in the body decreases with age. The result of that reduced production are inevitably signs of ageing. Wrinkles, less firm skin and weakened cartilage rear their heads. Read more on the topic What is collagen.
Sources of collagen
Collagen used in supplements for skin, hair and nails generally comes from two primary sources: fish or beef.
- Fish collagen comes from the skin, scales and bones of fish. It consists mainly of type I collagen.
- Bovine collagen comes from the skin and bones of beef cattle. It contains both type I and type III collagen.
Type II collagen, in turn, is mainly used in supplements to support joints. It's mostly extracted from chicken and, to a lesser extent, bovine cartilage.
The hype around fish collagen explained
As we mentioned in the intro, there's a claim that many people take for truth. It says fish collagen is better than bovine collagen. Where does this belief come from?
It's a fact that collagen is a large protein that cannot be easily absorbed. Collagen from fish does have a higher absorption rate than collagen from cattle. The reason for this is that the peptides are smaller and thus more easily absorbed by the body.
In addition, as mentioned above, marine collagen consists mainly of type I collagen. Type I is known to be extremely suitable for skin, nails and hair. This is the number one reason why most people buy collagen.
Based on these two arguments, one could indeed conclude that fish collagen is better than bovine collagen. However, a little more nuance is required. There's something that is of crucial importance: the degree of hydrolysis.
"Simply explained, hydrolysis is the process by which a protein is cut into smaller fragments. These smaller fragments can be more easily absorbed and used by the body."
Collagen hydrolisis
When collagen peptides are sufficiently hydrolysed, it no longer matters whether they come from fish or beef. This is because the body cannot distinguish between the two.
All our body has to do is absorb and employ the peptides. How smoothly this happens depends on the bioavailability.
Bioavailability of collagen
Collagen of marine origin naturally has smaller peptides than bovine collagen. However, bovine collagen that has undergone extensive hydrolysis can smoothly match or even exceed the bioavailability of fish collagen.
All that matters to the body is bioavailability. This term indicates how much of a substance is eventually effectively absorbed by our body. The greater the bioavailability, the more effective the absorption and the better the collagen peptides are utilised by the body.
In short, both fish and bovine collagen have huge benefits, as long as the hydrolysis ratio is high enough.
The science behind collagen absorption
In order to understand why hydrolysis is so important, let's take a closer look at the science behind collagen absorption. As mentioned earlier, collagen is a large protein. So large, in fact, that in its natural form it cannot be absorbed by the intestines. This is precisely why it must be cut into smaller pieces.
After ingestion, these smaller pieces begin their journey to the small intestine. Once they've arrived there, they're absorbed into the bloodstream and deposited exactly where the body needs them. The hydrolysed collagen stimulates the production of new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. The results are more elasticity, better hydration and better overall skin health.
What else does science say?
Much has already been written about the difference between fish collagen and bovine collagen. But also the sense and nonsense of collagen supplements in general, is the subject of many a debate. Let's dive into the science for a moment.
Numerous scientific studies have already demonstrated the benefits of bovine collagen for the skin. We'd like to list the main conclusions of studies on the influence of hydrolysed collagen on hydration, elasticity and the overall appearance of the skin.
The influence of hydrolysed collagen in anti-ageing
Several studies have already shown a significant difference in hydration and elasticity of the skin in groups taking hydrolysed collagen versus groups administered a placebo.
The conclusion of these studies is that supplements containing hydrolysed collagen, regardless of the source, can improve skin health. In particular, skin moisture and elasticity, both crucial aspects in skin ageing, improve.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=collagen+supplement+skin&filter=pubt.clinicaltrial
How to choose the best collagen supplement?
Nowadays we're knocked around with collagen supplements of often low quality. As the argument above has shown, the degree of hydrolysis is of prime importance. Beyond hydrolysis, there are factors to consider:
Purity and quality
The safety and efficacy of collagen supplements are strongly influenced by their purity and quality. Superior collagen is extensively examined for impurities and carefully hydrolysed for better absorption. These products contain no foreign ingredients and their quality is guaranteed by third-party certifications. The efficacy and reliability of a supplement is further guaranteed by suitable packaging and a positive brand reputation.
Additional ingredients
Some ingredients are ideally suited to be taken together with collagen. Vitamin C, for example, is essential for collagen synthesis.
Keratin precursors also support collagen formation. Amino acids such as cysteine and methionine are examples of such keratin precursors that stimulate collagen production. These amino acids help build the collagen triple helix structure, which is essential for its stability and strength.
Moreover, cysteine contributes to the formation of glutathione, an antioxidant that protects collagen fibres from oxidative damage.
Sugars and sweeteners
If you've been following us for a while, you may know that sugars and sweeteners are taxing on the liver. A burdened liver makes it difficult for collagen to get absorbed efficiently. Many collagen supplements on the market unfortunately contain sugars or sweeteners. Therefore, choose a supplement with 0% sugars or sweeteners!
Insentials Smart Collagen Shots
If you want to be able to sleep on both ears when it comes to your collagen supplement, we recommend our Smart Collagen Shots. This supplement offers a number of specific benefits:
- Fourth-degree hydrolysis: the Insentials Smart Collagen Shot exhibits a remarkable degree of hydrolysis, dissolving collagen into smaller peptides to improve absorption. The excellent bioavailability of the collagen peptides is guaranteed by this high degree of hydrolysis. The absorption rate is as high as 91%, which is unique in the market.
- Suitable for people with fish allergies: because Insentials Smart Collagen Shots use bovine collagen instead of marine collagen, they're a safe choice for people with fish allergies.
- No unwanted additives: to cover up the unpleasant taste of collagen, many collagen supplements contain artificial sweeteners or sugars. However, as mentioned, these can stress the liver and interfere with collagen absorption and function. In Insentials Smart Collagen Shots, natural strawberry flavouring is used for a delicious taste, without burdening your liver.
- User-friendly packaging: our Smart Collagen Shots come in convenient little brown recyclable bottles that are perfect for taking with you. The strength and efficacy of the supplement is preserved by the dark colour, which protects the collagen and vitamin C from oxidation.
- Exceptionally high dose: the Insentials collagen shots contain as much as 10g of collagen. Most shots on the market contain only 5g of collagen. Moreover, we use keratin precursors in our unique Keraboost technology.