Marine vs. Bovine vs. Vegan Collagen: Which One is Right for You?
Confused about which type of collagen to buy? This post is for you.
Researchers have identified 28 different types of collagen in the human body. However, Types I, II, and III make up 90% of all the collagen in our bodies. So, should you be investing in bovine or marine collagen?
Bovine Collagen
Source: Derived from the hides, bones, and muscles of cows.
Type: Primarily type I and type III, which are amazing for skin elasticity, strength, as well as hair and nail health.
Benefits: Excellent for increasing skin hydration, smoothing wrinkles, and boosting the health of hair and nails.
Best For: Those looking for an effective, all-round supplement to enhance skin, hair, nail health, and more, at a more accessible price point.
Quality Control: Look for grass-fed and finished, hydrolysed peptides.
Marine Collagen
Source: Sourced from fish skin and/or scales.
Type: Abundant in type I collagen (90%), crucial for optimal skin, and highly beneficial for hair and nail beauty.
Benefits: Known for its superior bioavailability and absorption. It’s fantastic for skin firmness, hydration, boosts hair glossiness, and strengthens nails.
Best For: Individuals who prefer a pescatarian-friendly option and are on a bigger budget.
Quality Control: Look for sustainably-caught, wild fish (not farmed).
Can Collagen Be Vegan?
Something that I get asked about is vegan collagen options.
True collagen cannot be naturally found in plants as plants don’t produce collagen. Collagen is a large, complex triple-helix-structured protein that is only produced by animals, including humans. This is why you need to buy hydrolysed peptides so that you can absorb the amino acids.
So why do you see so many vegan collagen supplements on the market? You need to look at the ingredients list and see what they’re providing. Many are collagen support, not actual collagen, with ingredients like vitamin C and zinc which support collagen synthesis.
Some might be providing some of the amino acids needed to make collagen, but keep in mind that we need 19 in total, and 2 of them cannot be found in plants.
How are they getting around this? By genetically modifying yeast and bacteria to create genes that enable them to produce amino acids that mimic the structure of animal-derived collagen.
So next time you buy vegan collagen, check out the label to see what’s in it.