Collagen and collagen hydrolysate are undisputed beauty stars. After all, both of them are reputed to soften early wrinkles, to give the skin more firmness and to give it a certain glow. But which of the two beauty stars works better? Or are collagen and collagen hydrolysate actually the same thing? Let us throw some light on the matter.
Collagen hydrolysate is obtained by breaking down (hydrolysis) native collagen. This produces smaller fragments, so-called peptides, from the very complex collagen protein. These small collagen fragments are absorbed and distributed throughout the body more efficiently than conventional collagen. A clear benefit for the collagen peptides!
Collagen is THE main component of our skin, at around 80%. Together with elastin, collagen forms the supporting corset that gives our skin and the underlying connective tissue firmness and elasticity. In addition, collagen also has plumping effects due to its water-binding properties.
From the age of around 25, the body’s own collagen production begins to decline by about 1.5% per year, leading to ever more visible changes. From this age onwards, the targeted intake of hydrolysed collagen is therefore worthwhile and is an ideal strategy to counteract natural skin ageing and to nurture the beauty of the sensitive outer barrier from within.
Hydrolysed collagen enters the small intestine when taken orally, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream in the form of small collagen peptides and free amino acids. It thus has a dual effect.
While in the beauty world, nothing beats collagen hydrolysate, peptide powder is still considered a secret tip among athletes. Although there are isolated studies on muscle growth for collagen hydrolysate that demonstrate a benefit for fat-free mass and strength, there are certainly more suitable sources of protein specifically for muscle growth. Nonetheless, collagen hydrolysate is a good suggestion for athletes for the regeneration and strengthening of their musculoskeletal system. More about this in the following point.
Collagen is always found where the tissue has to withstand high tensile stress – whether in muscles, ligaments, tendons or cartilage. These structures are subject to enormous forces, particularly when under sporting stress. The fact that the targeted use of collagen hydrolysate not only strengthens the collagen-dependent structures of the musculoskeletal system, but in certain cases can be useful even in the case of already existing problems, has been shown, among other things, by a randomised placebo-controlled interventional study. In this study, 147 athletes with arthritis-related joint pain received either collagen hydrolysate (10 g daily) for 24 weeks or a placebo. After the end of the study, the results analysis showed that there was a partially significant reduction in pain in the collagen hydrolysate group.
The recommended daily dose may vary depending on the preparation and the reason for use. NATICOL®, a collagen hydrolysate from fish, already shows a skin-improving effect in clinical studies at daily doses of 2.5, g or 5 g. To further enhance the anti-ageing effect, quality preparations deliberately work with even higher quantities (5 to 10 g daily).
There are 28 types of collagen in our body. Collagen types 1, 2 and 3 are most common.
The premium collagen NATICOL® used by BIOGENA impresses with its best bioavailability thanks to its fish collagen type I peptides.
Collagen hydrolysate can be produced using various methods. This includes treatment with acids, alkalis or high temperatures and pressure. However, the most common method is extraction via enzymatic degradation. In this process, specially selected enzymes break down native collagen into smaller protein fragments (known as peptides). While conventional collagen has a molecular weight of 360,000 daltons, collagen hydrolysate has an average molecular weight of approximately 4,000 daltons due to its “pre-digestion”. The fish collagen type I peptides (mainly di- and tri-peptides) in NATICOL® have a particularly low molecular weight (2-4 kDa), which allows them to be optimally absorbed by the body and to enjoy a particularly high bioavailability
Different animal starting materials are used for the production of collagen hydrolysate. These are often by-products that originate from the slaughter of cows and pigs. However, modern beauty formulas now increasingly rely on collagen hydrolysate from fish, as this mainly contains type 1 collagen (a collagen that is most common in the human body at a concentration of almost 90%). This is also obtained as a by-product from aquaculture.
In this context, the branded raw material NATICOL® in particular has made a name for itself. This premium raw material is not only sustainable and absorbed very easily, but clinical studies also confirm its positive effects on the skin’s appearance – skin appears firmer, more hydrated and has fewer wrinkles.
When taking collagen hydrolysate, side effects such as digestive problems or bloating occur only in rare cases and at very high doses. As a protein product, collagen hydrolysate also has a certain allergic potential (although this is low). For this reason, people with a fish allergy should avoid collagen hydrolysate from fish as a precaution.
The branded raw material NATICOL® has undergone a variety of clinical studies with a beauty focus, which were conducted in collaboration with research institutes as well as specialist clinics and hospitals.
A double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled study published in 2016 investigated the anti-ageing potential of 5 g Naticol® fish collagen peptides in 60 healthy female subjects aged 35 to 70 years. The test zones included the facial skin, abdominal skin and forearm skin.
After 8 weeks of regular intake of 5 g Naticol®, significant improvements in skin firmness on the abdomen, face and forearms as well as a reduction in wrinkles were found. The results also suggested that Naticol® could have a preventive effect against dehydration in cold weather conditions.
Would you like to dive even further into the subject and read more in studies on collagen or collagen hydrolysate? Under the item "In-depth studies", you will find some of the studies that we consulted in our various collagen research.
Conclusion: Collagen is not only a beauty booster for our skin, it also benefits our muscles, cartilage and tendons. If you want to get the most out of the various benefits of structural protein, collagen hydrolysate from fish is to be particularly recommended. This is not only considered easy to digest and absorb, it also mainly supplies the highly sought-after type I collagen in a particularly bioavailable peptide form.
Collagen hydrolysate is usually obtained by enzymatic treatment of native collagen. Otherwise, acids, alkalis or high temperatures and pressure can be used as manufacturing methods.
Collagen peptides and collagen hydrolysate (also: hydrolysed collagen) are synonyms for the same beauty nutrient. Both names can be used here – after all, collagen is broken down into smaller fragments, so-called peptides, by hydrolysis.
Bioactive collagen hydrolysate means that the peptides contained are well absorbed and have the ability to have a positive effect on the condition and function of the body (e.g. skin, joints).
Collagen hydrolysate has the clear advantage over conventional collagen that it is easier to digest, absorb and distribute in the various tissues of the human body. This helps us to better exploit the benefits of the collagen intake.
Collagen hydrolysate is collagen that has been split into smaller bites (peptides) that are much better absorbed by our bodies by means of the hydrolysis process.
Collagen is a protein found exclusively in the animal kingdom. Accordingly, collagen hydrolysate is also an animal product.
Further reading:
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Choi, F.D. 2019. Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019 Jan 1;18(1):9-16.
De Miranda, R.B. et. al. 2021. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2021 Dec;60(12):1449-1461. doi: 10.1111/ijd.15518. Epub 2021 Mar 20.
Evans, M. et al. 2021. A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study to evaluate the efficacy of a freshwater marine collagen on skin wrinkles and elasticity. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 20(3):825–834.
Sibilla, S. et al. 2015. An Overview of the Beneficial Effects of Hydrolysed Collagen as a Nutraceutical on Skin Properties: Scientific Background and Clinical Studies. The Open Nutraceuticals Journal. 8(1).
De Almagro, M. C. 2020. The Use of Collagen Hydrolysates and Native Collagen in Osteoarthritis. AJBSR. 7(6):530–532.
Hong, H. et al. 2019. Preparation of low-molecular-weight, collagen hydrolysates (peptides): Current progress, challenges, and future perspectives. Food Chemistry. 301:125222.
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Geahchan, S. et al. 2022. Marine Collagen: A Promising Biomaterial for Wound Healing, Skin Anti-Aging, and Bone Regeneration. Mar Drugs. 20(1):61.
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Damodarasamy, Mamatha et al. 2014. Hyaluronan enhances wound repair and increases collagen III in aged dermal wounds. Wound repair and regeneration: official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society vol. 22,4 (2014): 521-6. doi:10.1111/wrr.12192
Clark, K.L., et al. 2008. 24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008 May;24(5):1485-96. doi: 10.1185/030079908×291967.
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