Shopping for health products can be overwhelming – especially when it comes to collagen. There are countless options on store shelves and online stores, all of which claim to be the best. So how do you know exactly what your money’s worth? Let’s break it down.

Collagen is the building block of your body, important to construction of our skin, bones and connective tissues. This protein keeps your skin from cracking, your bones strong, and your joints moving smoothly. But here’s the thing: as we age, our The natural production of collagen slows downand the collagen we already have begins to break down. That’s why many people turn to dietary changes and supplements to give their bodies a collagen boost. Before you jump in, though, it’s important to understand the difference between collagen and collagen peptides — because, yes, there is a difference. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein produced in our body. It is made from three chains of amino acids arranged in a helix pattern found in our muscles, tendons, cartilage, skin and bones. The amino acid glycine is present in most collagen chainswith proline and hydroxyproline also common. In addition to being a foundational building block, collagen is incredibly beneficial for things like tissue repair and a healthy immune response.

There are 28 types of collagen we know. Of these many types of collagen in the body, type I and III constitute the significant majority. As we age, our collagen breaks down more quickly, and our body becomes less efficient at producing more. (This is one of the causes of skin aging.) Other factors that contribute to collagen depletion include smoking, environmental pollution, excessive alcohol use and nutrient deficiencies.

What does collagen do?

As we age, our collagen breaks down at a faster rate, which is compounded by reduced production, so it’s important to be careful with our collagen intake. Although it is important for the overall health of the body, there are many specific benefits that people can pursue. For example, healthy levels of collagen help maintain healthy hair, skin, bones and joints. However, more research is needed to understand how Effective collagen supplements help tissue repair.

Tendons depend on collagen for firmness and strength and may weaken as we age. Taking supplements may help strengthen tendons and other parts of the joints. Collagen also makes up an important part of our bone massand people often lose bone mass at an older age. In some cases, increasing collagen intake through supplements may help reduce this.

What are collagen peptides?

Collagen peptides, also known as hydrolyzed collagenare fragments of animal-derived collagen that are broken down through a process called hydrolysis. When the Collagen is hydrolyzedit becomes more bioavailable — the body absorbs it more effectively.

Collagen peptides help create new collagen proteins and repair existing ones. While the full research on these supplements is relatively new, studies are beginning to produce promising findings. For example, this study found that collagen peptide supplements can contribute to improvement in many skin health characteristics.

What do collagen peptides do?

Many suspected benefits of collagen peptide supplements exist, although few have been seriously investigated. Among the potentials Benefits include improving skin aging and osteoarthritis. Although these peptides are mostly used to repair damaged collagen, these supplements can also help with other health issues such as:

What is the difference between collagen and collagen peptides?

A key difference between collagen and collagen peptides is that one is a broken down form of the other. Collagen peptides are made by breaking down animal collagen through hydrolysis. Therefore, while collagen is a complete protein, collagen peptides are fragments of that protein.

Whole collagen is difficult for the body to digest or absorb, while collagen peptides are much easier for the body to absorb. When taking a whole collagen supplement, your body is only able to use a smaller portion of it compared to a collagen peptide supplement. This difference in bioavailability is the driving force behind collagen peptides as an alternative to collagen.

It is important to emphasize that the value of collagen peptides lies in their potential to help the body repair or produce collagen. So, while collagen peptides may be a good way to get there, the ultimate goal is whole and healthy collagen.

Which is better: Collagen or collagen peptides?

Although the ultimate goal may be collagen, the best way to get there may be through collagen peptides. Due to the low bioavailability of collagen and the relatively high bioavailability of collagen peptides, the latter may be more beneficial for people looking to reap the benefits.

While more research is needed to determine the full benefits offered by collagen and collagen peptide supplements, preliminary evidence seems to support the use of collagen peptides. However, it is important to remember that there are different types of collagen and supplements come in different formats.

Types of collagen supplements and collagen peptides

Collagen peptides indicate the type of collagen used to make them. Bovine and marine collagen are two examples of common collagen sources used to make collagen peptide supplements. Both sources provide large amounts of Type I collagen, while bovine also provides significant Type III.

Collagen is collected from different animalswith bovine, pig, chicken and marine animals being among the more common sources. Once extracted, collagen can be directly converted into collagen supplements, broken down into collagen peptides or partially broken down into gelatin.

Collagen supplements and collagen peptides are available in powder, pill and liquid forms. Each of them contains collagen or its parts. Pills are often the same as powder but placed inside a pill capsule. However, there are some differences between powder and liquid. The powder tends to have a higher concentration of collagen or peptides.

At the same time, liquid forms often claim a higher rate of bioavailability but lower concentration. In the end, the choice is a matter of preference, but if one type of supplement does not produce results, you may be successful with another.