Our body is made up of several types of collagen in connective tissue by the form of amino acids, which determines how the type of collagen is characterized. It is the most abundant protein within our body being responsible for our skin structure, i.e. elasticity; our gut health; eyes; strong bones and joined and healthy shiny hair.
Collagen begins to deplete as we age from as early as our mid-20s by 1% due to the natural ageing process. Collagen loss results in changes and issues to our skin, hair, joints and bones over time. Therefore, collagen supplementation is a good way to maintain the levels and slow the process of biological ageing to a point.
Whenever you hear about collagen supplements, it comes from some animal source. Those primary sources are from bovine or marine animal sources and sold in powder, tablet, liquid or gummy forms.
Bovine collagen as the name suggests comes from cattle, especially cows. It is made from the cattle hides and contains Type I and Type III collagen. Bovine collagen is the most common collagen source and tends to be less expensive than marine collagen. This collagen protein is better for gut health; good for workout recovery; aids joint pain, and improves overall strength.
Conversely, Marine collagen is obtained from the skin and scales of fish. Marine collagen is closer to human collagen given it consists of primarily of Type I collagen, which is excellent for skin hydration, photoaging, and a higher absorption rate than that of Bovine collagen because it is more bioavailable.
When it comes to wellness and supplementation, both Bovine and Marine collagen make an excellent addition to your arsenal as it has a multiplicity of benefits to your overall health. However, if you are a pescatarian (eats fish rather than meat), and faster results, Marine collagen is better for you.