Collagen hydrolysate or conventional collagen: what works better

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.

• Firstly, the free amino acids serve as building blocks for the formation of collagen and elastin fibres.

• Secondly, the collagen peptides stimulate the formation of new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

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.

• Collagen type I: Type 1 collagen accounts for approximately 90% of our body’s own collagen and is found in the skin, connective tissue, bones, tendons and ligaments.

• Collagen type 2: Type 2 collagen is primarily found in our cartilage.

• Collagen type 3: Type 3 collagen is found in the skin and blood vessels.

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.

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.