Marine vs bovine collagen: What’s the difference?
Marine vs bovine collagen: What’s the difference?
Collagen is a structural protein naturally produced by the human body. It supports firm, smooth skin and healthy hair and nails. Collagen can be supplemented daily in an ingestible beauty routine via collagen sources such as marine or bovine collagen. But what is the difference between marine collagen and bovine collagen?
Here we put the two formulas head-to-head to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of marine collagen vs. bovine collagen – so you can decide if marine collagen is better than bovine for your beauty concerns.
What is Collagen?
Before we compare marine and bovine collagen, let’s start with a quick overview of collagen types and their role in the body.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body, essential for supporting skin, bones, muscles, and connective tissues. Although there are 28 different types of collagen, three types—Type I, Type II, and Type III — are especially important for daily functioning, according to a study on collagen supplement. Type I, forming around 90% of our body’s collagen, provides structure to our skin, bones, tendons, and more. Type II contributes flexibility to our joints, while Type III supports organs, blood vessels, and muscle health.
Each type of collagen plays a unique role in maintaining strength and resilience, and different sources of collagen supplements can help target specific needs in the body.
What is marine collagen? Where is it sourced?
Marine collagen is a type of collagen sourced from fish skin, containing primarily Type I collagen with some Type III. These collagen types are beneficial for maintaining the health of skin, hair, and nails, making marine collagen a popular beauty supplement. Vida Glow’s formulation includes collagen peptides from different fish species to provide a complete amino acid profile and ensure varied sources.
This collagen is derived from fish that are sourced from open-water farms in Europe as a by-product of the food industry. Fish skin that would otherwise go to waste is hydrolysed, creating a bioavailable collagen supplement. This process utilises materials that would be discarded, turning them into an ingestible product without increasing environmental impact.
Vida Glow partners with suppliers who meet international sustainability standards, helping to support environmental and social compliance within the industry.
As a naturally fish-based product, marine collagen is also suitable for pescatarian diets or for those choosing to avoid beef or pork.
What are the benefits of marine collagen?
Natural Marine Collagen is clinically proven to firm skin – and supports thick hair and strong nails. Within weeks of beginning supplementation, Vida Glow’s community experience more hydrated skin and the fast growth of baby hairs and nails. After six to 12 weeks, fine lines and wrinkles are softened and smoothed and skin’s elasticity is improved. In a 2018 independent, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial, 2.5-grams of hydrolysed marine collagen was supplemented daily for 12 weeks, finding:
More than 70% of subjects experienced significant improvement in the appearance of crow’s feet wrinkles.
And, 60% of subjects experienced significant improvement in the appearance of perioral wrinkles (1).
Clinically proven to stimulate collagen production, marine collagen supports the natural ageing process with tangible results for skin, hair and nails.
Users may choose marine collagen over bovine collagen for its higher bioavailability, meaning it’s more easily absorbed by the body, leading to potentially faster results. Marine collagen is especially rich in Type I collagen, which directly supports skin, hair, and nail health, making it an ideal option for those prioritising beauty-related benefits.
How to take marine collagen?
Vida Glow makes taking marine collagen fuss-free. So you can stay consistent and achieve tangible results. And with marine collagen’s high potency and low dosage weight, clinically proven results are seen with as little as one daily 3-gram serve.
With on-the-go sachets, Natural Marine Collagen is taken in three convenient steps: Tear. Stir. Sip. Dissolve your natural flavour of choice or unflavoured Original into any drink – hot or cold – and commit to daily marine collagen supplementation.
What is bovine collagen? Where is it sourced?
Bovine collagen is collagen peptides extracted from the hides, or joints of cattle.
Bovine collagen is a type of collagen derived from the hides of cows, primarily composed of Type I and Type III collagen. These types of collagen are essential for supporting the body’s structural framework, particularly for skin, bones, tendons, and connective tissues.
Known for its versatility, bovine collagen is commonly used to support joint health, improve skin elasticity, and promote overall tissue repair. It is often favoured for its cost-effectiveness and availability, making it a popular choice for those seeking general wellness benefits. Hydrolysed bovine collagen is also easily digestible, allowing the body to absorb and utilise it effectively for a wide range of health benefits.
How to take bovine collagen?
Bovine collagen is most often supplemented as a peptide powder, dissolved in liquid.
Compared to marine collagen, bovine collagen can have a high dosage weight. In your routine, this means servings may be as large as 20-grams or designed to be supplemented throughout the day – compared to marine collagen’s 3-gram daily serve.
Key differences between marine and bovine collagen
Source and Composition
Marine collagen is sourced from fish skin and is primarily rich in Type I collagen, which specifically supports skin, hair, and nail health. Bovine collagen, derived from cow hides, contains both Type I and Type III collagen, benefiting not only skin but also joints and connective tissues. This composition makes bovine collagen a versatile option for broader wellness.
Bioavailability and Absorption
Marine collagen has a smaller particle size, making it highly bioavailable and quickly absorbed by the body. This allows marine collagen to potentially deliver faster results, especially in areas like skin hydration and elasticity. Bovine collagen, while still effective, may not absorb as quickly due to its larger molecular structure.
Sustainability Considerations
When responsibly sourced, marine collagen is often seen as more sustainable, as it utilises fish skin by-products that would otherwise go to waste. Bovine collagen, however, depends on cattle farming, which has a larger environmental impact. This difference may be important for those seeking a more eco-friendly collagen source.
Dietary Preferences
Marine collagen is suitable for pescatarians or those who avoid land-based sources like beef, while bovine collagen can be used by individuals who choose land-sourced options. This distinction allows users to select a collagen type that aligns with their dietary needs.
Is marine collagen better than bovine collagen?
Marine collagen is a naturally small molecule compared to bovine collagen – which can mean its molecular weight can be even smaller once hydrolysed in some formulas. This has led some research to suggest hydrolysed marine collagen is absorbed 1.5 times more effectively than other forms of collagen (2).
This means marine collagen’s fast and effective formulas delivers firmer skin, thicker hair and stronger nails – and in as soon as 12 weeks.
With its targeted beauty benefits in one daily routine, marine collagen is the foundation of Vida Glow – and real results.
(1) Duteil, L., Roussel, C. Q., Bruno-Bonnet, C., & Lacour, J. P. (2018). Effect Of Low Dose Type I Fish Collagen Peptides Combined or Not with Silicon on Skin Aging Signs in Mature Women. Juniper Online Journal of Case Studies, 6(4). Https://Doi.Org/10.19080/Jojcs.2018.06.555692
(2) Sripriya, R. and Kumar, R. (2015) A Novel Enzymatic Method for Preparation and Characterization of CollagenFilm from Swim Bladder of Fish Rohu (Labeo rohita). Food and Nutrition Sciences, 6, 1468-1478. doi: 10.4236/fns.2015.615161.
