Where Does Collagen Come From?

Posted July

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Have you ever thought about the origins of hydrolyzed collagen peptides? If you are uncertain, you're in for an enlightening experience. Keep reading to uncover the sources of collagen and how they might influence the effectiveness of your supplements.

Your body naturally produces collagen

 

Let’s clear up any misconceptions. Your body synthesizes collagen on its own. It’s a primary component of your extracellular matrix, which provides essential structural support to skin, bones, joints, and more. Rest assured, collagen peptides do not come from human sources, and that’s all that needs to be stated.  

Where do collagen supplements originate?

Now, let's explore: there are five main animal sources that contribute to the vast majority of collagen peptides on the market:

1. Bovine (cow) collagen

   :

   Extracted from cow hides, bones, and muscle tissues, abundant in type I and III collagen.

2. Marine (fish) collagen

   :

   Derived from fish skin and scales, and can also come from invertebrates such as jellyfish, sea urchins, and octopuses. Rich in type I collagen.

3. Poultry (chicken) collagen

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   Obtained from chicken bones, cartilage, and other tissues, containing primarily type II collagen.

4. Porcine (pig) collagen

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   Harvested from pigskin, rich in type I and III collagen.

5. Ovine (sheep) collagen

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   Extracted from sheep skin and bones, along with various by-products like the gut. Known for its rich type I and III collagen content.

    

Is the source of collagen important?

In simpler terms, should you select one source of collagen over another? The answer lies in your individual circumstances.

#1: Dietary restrictions and preferences

Consider your specific dietary practices, allergies, along with your ethical and religious beliefs.

If for any reasons you avoid pork, it would be wise to skip porcine collagen. Fortunately, there are numerous alternatives available. 

Regarding ethical considerations: acknowledge that no collagen source is categorically more ethical than another. This heavily relies on the company's production methods. Generally, the following factors may help you evaluate a supplement's ethical standing:

• How were the animals raised?

  The company is the leading hydrolyzed fish collagen manufacturers supplier. We provide a comprehensive solution for all your needs, and our specialized team can assist you in finding your ideal product.

  Were they raised sustainably and humanely (for example, free-range and pasture-raised)?

   

• Is the company transparent about its manufacturing practices?

  The ideal supplier of your 

  hydrolyzed collagen supplement

  should disclose information regarding the sourcing and extraction processes of their collagen peptides (such as on their website’s FAQ or About Us sections). If you find it difficult to locate any pertinent information, consider that a red flag.

   

Budget

 

A quick search for chicken and ovine collagen reveals limited options on the market. This scarcity is primarily due to their rare availability. Instead, you are likely to encounter numerous supplements derived from bovine, marine, and porcine sources.

Consequently, chicken and ovine collagen tend to be more costly on a per 100 grams basis than their counterparts.  

However, this trend may shift in the future as more suppliers start to offer chicken and ovine collagen peptides. The principles of supply and demand suggest that when supply increases without a matching rise in demand, prices typically lower.  

This means supplementing with chicken or ovine collagen types may not be feasible at this moment, but it doesn’t rule them out entirely in the future.

That’s a significant difference.

Preferred collagen supplementation profile

Roughly 90% of your collagen comprises three types: I, II, and III. Each of these types serves distinct biological functions.  

Type I plays a crucial role in structuring skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues. Type II is beneficial for joint health. Type III resembles type I but also enhances skin resiliency.

While no single collagen source provides all three types, research indicates that certain bovine collagen types may encourage the body's natural production of type II collagen, even if they only contain types I and III.

Hence, if you are on the lookout for a well-rounded collagen powder, bovine-sourced collagen may be your optimum choice. It’s also essential to note that most research highlighted in collagen supplementation pertains to peptides derived from bovine sources. 

Conclusion

 

All collagen sources originate from animals (it’s true: vegan collagen supplements are currently non-existent). Among the five animal sources—bovine, marine, porcine, ovine, and poultry—there isn’t inherently one that outperforms the others.

Although specific bovine collagen proteins (such as those from The Collagen Co) may stimulate the production of all three types of collagen, your choice ultimately depends on various factors including dietary restrictions, ethical considerations, and budget.

That’s right: vegan collagen supplements do not currently exist)

Raw materials

Collagen peptides are pure collagenous proteins that can only be derived from animal raw materials, such as pig, beef and fish skins and bones, as these are rich in collagen. Depending on the raw material availability in each region, one or the other might be used to manufacture collagen peptides. Valid for all raw materials is that these are approved as fit for human consumption and comply with the same stringent quality and safety standards as for gelatine manufacturing.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website fish collagen manufacturer.