How does collagen work?

What is collagen?

Collagen supplements have been available on our market since, one might say, the 1990s. At first glance, this is nothing new. Dietary supplements containing this notoriously well-known protein were traditionally sold in tablet or capsule form, but their effectiveness was often questionable. Most experts tended to agree that they produced little to no results—until recently.

In recent years, the popularity of this organic substance has grown remarkably. It has been shown that, when properly dosed at significantly higher levels than those found in pills, collagen has a major impact primarily on the skin. [1] It increases skin elasticity, helps prevent the formation of wrinkles, can even reduce their depth, and also helps prevent cellulite. [2] [3]

However, the benefits extend beyond the skin to include hair, nails, and joint health as well. It can quite literally stop time and restore freshness to your body. How is this possible? And what has changed that collagen has started to work? Read more in the article below.

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The role of collagen in the body

Before answering the questions mentioned above, let us first take a closer look at what collagen actually is and where its remarkable effects come from. Collagen is a scleroprotein, meaning a water-insoluble protein. Its presence has been confirmed by clinical research even in Mesozoic dinosaurs. [4]

From a scientific perspective, collagen is a fundamental building block of human connective tissues and can therefore be found virtually throughout the entire body. It makes up nearly 30% of all proteins in the human organism. Human skin alone contains up to 70% of this protein and collagen can account for as much as 10% of a person’s total body weight. This, in turn, provides the answer to the question of why our skin ages.

During periods of growth and development, the body is able to meet its collagen needs on its own.
Around the age of 25, collagen production begins to gradually decline.
By the age of 50, average collagen production is only about 20%.

In addition, there are a number of other external factors that negatively affect its natural production. Lifestyle, alcohol consumption, smoking, sun exposure, and more.

Therefore, it is desirable to supply collagen to the body. Fortunately, the solution to the problem of how to supplement collagen is simple.

You just need to choose the right one, and your body will start responding within a few weeks. Not only will the aging process slow down, but you will also have more energy and vitality.

Elevate Your Collagen Routine

Types of collagen

But how do you choose the right type of collagen so that it works as it should? Another useful thing to know about collagen is its different types. Distinguishing between the various sources and types of collagen is key to navigating the dozens of products available on our market.

Classification by collagen source:

Bovine collagen
Porcine (pork) collagen
Marine (fish) collagen

These are the three main sources of collagen used in food production. In each case, it can be considered a natural source, and therefore it is natural collagen. Artificially synthesized collagen does not exist. While there may be very similar compounds, their properties differ significantly.

The first two sources, due to their availability, are mainly used to supplement issues with the musculoskeletal system—that is, joints and tendons—where the requirements for cellular absorption are not as high. The third source, marine (fish) collagen, because of its low molecular weight, is more easily absorbed and therefore primarily useful for skin, hair, and other soft tissues, where absorption is more critical. However, the effectiveness of fish collagen is logically higher even in the case of harder tissues.

Classification by collagen type

A rather surprising fact is that after many years of collagen research, nearly 30 individual types have been identified in the bodies of vertebrates. Scientific literature provides a specification for each of them.

But let’s focus on those most important for the human body:

Type I collagen – the most abundant in the human body, representing up to 90% of all collagen. It is found in the skin, connective tissues, and bones.
Type II collagen – composed of smaller fiber bundles than, for example, Type I, and therefore is primarily found in joint cartilage.
Type III collagen – supports organs made of smooth muscle (heart, stomach, eyes, and others) and is also a component of muscles, veins, and arteries.
Type IV to XXVIII collagen – occur less frequently in the human body and are less relevant for our purposes.

All of these collagen types in our bodies need repair, renewal, and regeneration. Collagen synthesis occurs both inside individual cells (intracellularly) and partially outside the cells (extracellularly). It is therefore crucial to supply this biochemical process with the smallest possible particles. These are called collagen peptides, which can be obtained through a technology called hydrolysis (splitting).

Hydrolyzed fish collagen for skin, hair and more

As mentioned above, fish collagen, sometimes also called marine collagen, is mainly used for skin and hair care. When collagen peptides are produced gently and ideally hydrolyzed cold, they can achieve a very low molecular weight of under 2000 Da (Daltons). This gives the collagen a high ability to be absorbed into cells. This property cannot be claimed by so-called natural collagen, which is less bioactive and much less usable by the human body. You may also encounter terms like native collagen or live collagen—beware of these marketing tricks.

There are several ways to supplement with hydrolyzed fish collagen peptides. There is a wide range of products on the market. Primarily, you will encounter two forms: liquid collagen or collagen powder. The form, however, does not matter. Whether it is a collagen drink or a dry form that is later dissolved in liquid, there is no difference in effectiveness.

It also does not matter whether it is pure collagen or combined with other ingredients. The effectiveness of collagen with added substances is not lower. In fact, pure collagen for the skin is often less effective than, for example, collagen combined with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or biotin. But more on that later.

Let’s focus now on what is truly essential and what will help you answer the question: which collagen is best for you?

How to choose the best collagen?

As we have seen above, when it comes to the source material, the best option is hydrolyzed fish collagen, specifically its peptides. It achieves significantly higher absorption compared to cheaper and more easily processed bovine and porcine collagens.

However, even with fish collagen peptides, there can be differences. When choosing the right product, we recommend paying attention to the following factors:

CLEAR ORIGIN
Avoid manufacturers who do not disclose the sources of their raw materials.
PRESENCE OF CERTIFICATES
Every reputable manufacturer should at least have FSSC (food safety), HACCP (hazard analysis for food production), and ISO (quality management) certifications.
COMPOSITION
The amount of collagen in milligrams and any additional active ingredients.

The last point is particularly crucial. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, collagen is not new and has been sold on our market for many years. Most products were in tablet form. The problem with these preparations is that a tablet usually weighs less than 1000 mg. A tablet over one gram becomes quite large and difficult to consume.

You also have to consider excipients, stabilizers, acidity regulators, and other emulsifiers, which are necessary to manufacture the tablet. In the best case, this results in only about 500 mg of collagen, processed through multiple production steps, and its biological value remains highly questionable.

How to dose collagen?

Numerous clinical studies over the past years have clearly shown that the effects of collagen only appear at multi-gram doses. Participants in these studies were given doses up to twenty times higher than standard tablets. Most participants consumed 5,000–10,000 mg per day. Smaller amounts of collagen did not produce significant results.

In general, there is no single “optimal” collagen dose. It varies individually depending on several factors. Naturally, a person’s body weight plays a role—the larger the individual, the higher the recommended dose. Other important factors include genetics, tendencies toward dry or poor-quality skin, hair brittleness, nail quality, frequency of physical activity, and many others.

There is no reason to worry about excessive doses—collagen overdose is not possible, and any amount the body does not use is simply excreted.

Collagen and vitamin C

It is also possible to find other supportive active ingredients in collagen products that can provide significant benefits. For example, vitamin C plays a crucial role in the biochemical processes of collagen transformation, repair, and production in the human body. It significantly contributes to and stimulates collagen synthesis. This indispensable vitamin has many other essential functions, so it does not require further introduction.

Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid

Often called the “molecule of youth,” hyaluronic acid is a highly beneficial substance for the body. Its effectiveness is well known, and it has been used for decades in cosmetic products and dietary supplements. When taken in combination with collagen, the effectiveness of both substances is mutually enhanced. Fish collagen combined with hyaluronic acid forms an inseparable duo, supporting not only beautiful skin but also hair, nails, joints, tendons, and more.

Other Collagen Helpers

In addition to vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, there are other active ingredients that provide significant benefits. For example, biotin (also known as vitamin B7) is widely recognized for hair care and also has therapeutic effects on the skin. Equally worth mentioning is zinc, which is ubiquitous in the body and essential for the proper functioning of numerous enzymatic systems. In the skin, zinc is the third most abundant mineral. Zinc deficiency is associated with a variety of skin disorders. Its collaboration with collagen has also been proven, particularly in the regeneration of bones and skin.

Last but not least, there is the exotic superfood acerola, which reliably helps reduce unwanted skin pigmentation.

Why collagen is essential for your body

- Collagen delays skin aging and helps prevent wrinkles and cellulite.
- Collagen also has excellent effects on hair, nails, joints, and more.
- During development, our bodies produce collagen naturally.
- After the age of 25, collagen production declines.
- The best collagen is hydrolyzed fish collagen in peptide form.
- Peptides from hydrolyzed marine collagen have the lowest molecular weight.
- Collagen makes up nearly 30% of all proteins in the body.
- Native collagen, also known as pure, natural, or live collagen, is not easily utilized by the body.
- Collagen for women does not exist—its effects are not gender-specific.
- Collagen’s effectiveness increases when combined with vitamin C.
- Collagen works better with hyaluronic acid and other supportive substances.
- Other helpers for collagen include zinc, biotin, and acerola.