There are many different types of collagen in the body, however more than 90% of collagen in the body is type 1 and 3 collagen.
Proteins of these types consist of glycine, proline, alanine and hydroxyproline.
- Glycine – the amino acid discovered at the highest levels of collagen, needs more serine than our body can produce naturally. Studies suggest the need for glycine supplements to achieve an ideal metabolic process.
- Proline – a non-essential amino acid synthesized from glycine and important for joints and tendons.
- Hydroxyproline – an amino acid that plays a vital role in the stability of collagen 3.
- Alanine – amino acid used in protein biosynthesis.
Type 2 collagen is produced by chondrocytes (the non-cellular matrix of cartilage) – a liquid filling within cartilage.
We will now explore in detail about type I, II and III collagen, marine and bovine collagen and also hydrolysate and peptides.
Type I collagen
Collagen type I and III are typically organized together. This is due to the fact that these two types of collagen are the most abundant and perform similar functions. Together, they amount to more than 90% of the total collagen our body. These 2 types of collagen are crucial parts for the maintenance of skin, nails, bones, hair and muscles. Type I and III collagen are produced by fibroblasts and osteoblasts, which are cells located in our connective tissues and cells that develop bones respectively.
Type I collagen can be found throughout the body leaving out the cartilaginous (i.e. type II) tissues. The collagen we are giving particular spotlight, which makes up 70% of our skin, is type I collagen.
While there are 18 amino acids in collagen, in specific four key amino acids discovered within these 2 types of collagen help keep our body healthy and feeling fantastic.
Glycine is an all-encompassing amino acid with many crucial functions in the body.
Another important vital amino acid in collagen types I and III is proline. Proline is particularly crucial for the stimulation of collagen synthesis, as well as acting as an antioxidant and preventing cell damage caused by complementary radicals.
Collagen type I and III also includes two other important amino acids: glutamine, which helps prevent intestinal swelling, and arginine, which may have the ability to help produce creatine to increase athletic performance.
Supplementation with type I and III collagen has actually been shown to have a variety of health benefits for the body, including slowing hair loss, minimizing wrinkles, thickening fine hair and decreasing fine lines, improving flow, supporting the matrix of our bone structures, and strengthening nail beds.
Type II Collagen
Type II collagen is only produced by chondrocytes, which means you will find it in your cartilage. Type II collagen makes up 50-60% of the proteins in cartilage.
Type II collagen comes from chicken, and is useful for supporting joints and cartilage, perhaps helping to support the jaw, back and joints – this includes lowering the irritating knees that pop.
Type III Collagen
As we said before, type I collagen and type III collagen are almost always grouped together because of how comparable they are in terms of what they can offer. Type III collagen can be discovered in our artery walls in addition to other hollow organs. It usually also occurs in comparable fibrils (muscle fibre quarters) together with Type I. Know that both are abundant in those amino acids we mentioned earlier: glycine, proline and glutamine.
Hydrolyzed collagen peptides and gelatin
Collagen is composed of 3 long chains of over 1000 amino acids that twist to form a triple helix shape. This type of collagen is not hydrolyzed and difficult to absorb.
Hydrolyzed collagen peptides are made by breaking the entire length chain of amino acids through a process called hydrolysis to form short-chain amino acids. Collagen peptides, also called hydrolyzed collagen or hydrolyzed collagen peptides, have the same full-length collagen amino acids but with different residential or commercial structural properties.
Gelatin is collagen that has actually gone through partial hydrolysis, leading to a gel. Gelatin is useful in helping to include and thicken texture to foods, such as jello, puddings and gummies.
Marine Collagen (Fish Collagen), Bovine Collagen And Other Origins
Bovine collagen has Type I and Type III collagen. If the collagen coming from the hides weren’t getting turned into gelatin or hydrolyzed collagen, it would simply get thrown away, so using it is also a big plus.
Supplementing with bovine collagen provides advantages to the bones, joints, skin and gut.
Marine collagen consists of Type I collagen only.
Marine collagen comes from fish and has the smallest particle size in addition to lowest molecular weight of all the other collagen types. This makes it even simpler gain access to through the blood stream for better repair and efficient nutrition. In fact, marine collagen is taken in 1.5 times more effectively than other collagens.
Marine collagen, or fish collagen, is appreciated for its anti-aging advantages, consisting of assisting to decrease wrinkles and reduce appearance of scars. In addition to its effectiveness, marine collagen is also excellent for sustainability; collagen-rich fish skin is typically a big portion of the approximated 60% of fish spin-offs that would typically become waste.
Collagen does not just originate from fish and beef.
Collagen can originate from a variety of sources, including egg, pig, and chicken.
Chicken collagen is typically drawn out from the chicken’s breast cartilage. Chicken collagen is a Type II collagen, and so it is helpful for medical functions, especially for your joints, bones, and cartilage.
Egg collagen can be naturally found in both the yolk and the membrane of chicken eggs, consisting of both Type I and Type V collagen (Type V collagen is important for hair, placenta, and the surface areas of our cells). It likewise has lots of other proteins that assist promote the body’s production of collagen as well.
Pig collagen, which is found mainly in pork skin. High in glycine, pig collagen has been known mainly for its skin benefits.
When picking which type of collagen is best for you, it is always important to understand where it is sourced from, and what benefits you hope to enjoy.