Have you headed down the supplement aisle and seen a multitude of collagen supplements? You’ll see collagen-containing pills, gummies, shots, infused water, and powders. Aside from that, you’ll be overwhelmed by the vast collagen types – from bovine or animal-sourced to marine, which came from fish.

When it comes to marine collagen vs bovine collagen, which one is right for you? In this blog, we’ve compared marine versus bovine collagen, and which one works better.

If you’re up to having glowing, radiant, and youth-looking skin, read more to understand the importance of collagen in the body.

What is collagen?

Before we dig deeper into the difference between bovine and marine collagen, it’s important to know the basics --- What is collagen?

Collagen is a type of protein responsible for skin elasticity, healthy joints, and skin stretchiness. It’s the most abundant protein in the human body, particularly found in the blood, bones, muscles, tendons, and skin.

It acts as a scaffold, providing structure and strength. It’s also an important component of connective tissues, helping hold together the body’s cells.

There are three major types of collagen --- type I, type II, and type III. The first type is the most abundant, accounting for 90 percent of all collagens in the body. It provides structure to the dermis or the outermost layer of the skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, connective tissues, teeth, and cornea. Type II is found in the elastic cartilage that cushions the joints, and Type III provides structure to the muscles, organs, skin, arteries, and vessel walls.

The body naturally produces collagen, but as we grow older, its amount decreases. This starts as early as your 20s, but the effects are more noticeable in your 40s. This translates to sagging, drier, looser, and less plump skin. You can consume collagen through dietary sources like chicken skin, fish skin, and supplements.

Currently, many skin care products also contain collagen, which has become popular for treating signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, and dry skin.

Marine and bovine collagen are two of the most popular collagen sources today. Though the main difference is their sources, let’s discuss their benefits and uses.

What is marine collagen? Marine collagen, as its name implies, comes from fish. Studies have shown that marine collagen works by improving skin texture, elasticity, and moisture. It is the most bioavailable of all other types of collagen, which means it can be absorbed faster.

Mainly, marine collagen improves skin elasticity since it contains type I collagen, making the skin look firmer, plumper, and smoother. This type of collagen may appeal to people who restrict meat from their diet for cultural, religious, or moral reasons.

Overall, marine collagen is a good protein supplement to help delay some signs of aging, such as joint issues, weakness, and wrinkles. Apart from its anti-aging effects, marine collagen is a good alternative for those who can’t consume other forms of collagen.

What is bovine collagen?

Bovine collagen is a form of protein that is derived from cows. It’s a naturally occurring protein found in connective tissues, cartilage, bones, and hides of cows. The collagen in cows’ hides is similar to the human type. Compared with marine collagen, which contains only type 1 collagen, bovine collagen contains both types I and III, making it a good supplement for the skin.

What makes types I and III important? It all boils down to amino acids. In bovine collagen, there are about 18 amino acids, with proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. These amino acids are very important building blocks of collagen, ligaments, and tendons. Further, they support the immune system and promote normal inflammatory processes.

Bovine collagen has been tied to a plethora of health benefits, including improved skin health, relief of arthritis, and prevention of bone loss. When taken internally, it can help form elastin and other important compounds in the skin, which are responsible for maintaining the skin’s radiance and youthful glow. It also helps reduce the visible signs of aging, including wrinkles, dryness, and decreasing puffiness. Some of the most popular bovine collagen-based supplements in the Philippines are Gloww Collagen and Shiseido The Collagen, among others.

Which is better?

Depending on your needs and preferences, you can choose the collagen type that’s right for you. If you want more appealing results, with type I and III collagen content, bovine collagen can deliver them for you to have more youth-looking skin.

Type I collagen is the most abundant one in the body and is found mostly in the skin. But type III is also essential as it is found in the vessels, muscles, arteries, and gut. It can help boost skin recovery, skin elasticity, and healing. Aside from promoting skin health, it also supports digestive health, cardiovascular health, and the bone matrix.

Also, it’s important to check with your dermatologist so you’ll know which one will work better on your skin. In a nutshell, both collagen types target the skin, increasing the production of collagen to achieve a more youthful glow.