What are the different types of collagen? Which type of collagen is better: peptidized collagen or collagen hydrolysate?

Collagen hydrolysate is the main structural component of the skin and accounts for more than 80% of its dry mass. It is known that the properties of the skin are primarily influenced by nutrition and hormones, endogenous factors that affect aging and ultraviolet radiation. The clinically proven collagen is Verisol® and Fortigel® collagen.

Collagen is a fibrillar protein (one of the three main types of proteins that differ in the shape of the protein molecules) that is made up of peptide chains. Collagen peptides are themselves part of amino acids.

To date, 28 types of collagen are known, which differ from each other. When choosing a collagen preparation, it is very important to pay attention to the type of collagen and its origin. We will focus on the first three types of collagen that interest us the most:

Collagen is a protein that is abundant in the human body, providing structure and strength to various tissues such as skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. There are several types of collagen, each with its own structure and function. The main types of collagen include:

1. Type I Collagen: This is the most abundant type of collagen in the body and is found in skin, bones, tendons, and other connective tissues. It provides structure and strength to these tissues and is often used in skincare products and supplements for joint health.

2. Type II Collagen: This type of collagen is primarily found in cartilage, which is the tissue that cushions joints and provides flexibility and support. It is commonly used in supplements for joint health and to support cartilage repair.

3. Type III Collagen: This type of collagen is found in skin, muscles, and blood vessels. It helps to support the structure of these tissues and is important for overall skin health and elasticity.

4. Type IV Collagen: This type of collagen is found in the basement membrane, which is a thin layer of tissue that surrounds and supports cells in various organs and tissues. It helps to maintain the integrity of the basement membrane and is important for organ function.

5. Type V Collagen: This type of collagen is found in hair, cell surfaces, and the placenta. It plays a role in cell adhesion and tissue development.

6. Type X Collagen: This type of collagen is found in the growth plates of bones and is involved in bone formation and growth.

These are the main types of collagen found in the body, each with its own unique structure and function. Collagen supplements often contain a combination of these types to support overall collagen production and tissue health.

Can you buy collagen in pharmacies or sports shops?

You can buy collagen both in pharmacies and in sports stores. It is important to carefully read the composition, what to look for when buying collagen:

The origin of the collagen, animal or fish collagen.

The type of collagen (one of the market leaders in collagen peptides is Verisol®, for example, whether flavored or unflavored) is also important, because unflavored collagen is often difficult for people to drink.

Verisol® peptidized collagen is constantly tested in clinical studies and proves its effectiveness.

The number of servings in a jar is very important because a large jar may only contain 10 servings. MST® Nutrition has 40 servings and more.

What type of collagen do you prefer to take, powder, liquid or tablets?

If zinc and biotin, for example, are added to the preparation, then this collagen is more for the skin.

Why is collagen important for humans?

Cartilage and ligaments grow throughout a person's life, but unevenly. After reaching sexual maturity, the collagen fibers in the cartilage are produced much more slowly. This leads to age-related problems with the knees, also because the body's own collagen reserves are depleted with increasing age.

Collagen peptides are widely used in the beauty industry. Their additional composition includes such important components as biotin, vitamin C, zinc and hyaluronic acid. It is important for women to have strong nails and firm skin, especially after the age of 30.

What is the best form of hydrolyzed collagen?

Collagen is divided into two main groups: animal collagen and marine collagen and plant collagen:

Animal collagen

At a chemical level, all collagen proteins are of animal origin. It is one of the most popular forms of collagen. You can see it on the jar called collagen hydrolysate. Animal collagen comes in the form of bovine collagen and porcine collagen.

Marine collagen

It is extracted from the upper cells of the skin and the underlying tissue of marine fish and other aquatic creatures. This protein is considered more effective because it is completely absorbed through the stomach walls. It is often labeled as Collagen Marine on the can.

In what form is it better to buy collagen: liquid, capsules or powder?

Collagen hydrolysate in powder form

This is the most common form of collagen, which is inexpensive compared to the other forms. The powder is often of the second type, which, as we already know, is intended for joints and ligaments. It is needed by athletes for the preparation of special sports shakes. Like all such substances, collagen in powder form is perfectly dosed. After swallowing, maximum adsorption into the walls of the gastrointestinal tract occurs and digestibility occurs within half an hour.

Collagen in capsules

The form of release is similar to encapsulated vitamins: the same jelly shell that easily slides through the gastrointestinal tract and dissolves almost instantly. Inside is the same collagen powder as in jars, only the price is usually slightly higher than the simplest form. There is one drawback of such packaging - since on average one capsule contains about 500mg of powder (sometimes 700mg and very rarely 1000mg), so one serving of collagen 5 grams is equivalent to about 10 capsules, which is extremely inconvenient. Especially if you sell 90 capsules, it will be enough for only 5-9 days.

Liquid form of collagen

This is a ready-made shake that is the most convenient way to consume it. Often, liquid collagen is combined with supplements such as zinc, copper, biotin, etc. It is quickly digested because it is quickly absorbed in the stomach. MST® Nutrition supplements have a pleasant taste and consistency due to the use of high-quality Verisol® collagen peptides enriched with biotin, zinc and vitamin C, as well as other vitamins and minerals. MST Nutrition also offers a drinkable collagen based on Fortigel®, which is also supported by a number of clinical studies and evidence.

Collagen in tablet form

Collagen in tablet form is about 2 times more concentrated compared to capsules. Taking 4-5 tablets 1 to 2 times a day is enough to meet your daily needs. If that doesn't confuse you, this is a great and very convenient option. MST® Nutrition offers a collagen supplement in tablet form with 1 gram of collagen hydrolysate per tablet along with vitamin C.

It is possible to combine the above options, but it all depends on the goal. Active people need collagen powder or a ready-made liquid suspension to reach their peak form. Tablets are suitable as a simple general strengthening supplement to a vitamin complex.

Benefits of collagen from the German company MST Nutrition

MST collagen peptides contain vitamin C, biotin, zinc and other vitamins that enhance the effects of collagen, so you don't need to buy vitamin C separately as it is included in the composition.

Collagen Peptides + Biotin from MST® is manufactured in Germany in pharmaceutical GMP and HACCP quality plants.

MST® uses collagen peptides and not just collagen hydrolysate in its composition.

Collagen from MST® Nutrition has a wonderful taste that does not get boring over time and can even be drunk without diluting with water.

What is the daily requirement of collagen and how is it taken?

Humans need about 5000 mg of collagen per day, and the need increases exponentially with age, since our body regenerates connective tissue and muscles much more slowly and less efficiently than in youth. The general rules for taking it are as follows:

Collagen intake should be between two and three months. It is recommended to take it half an hour before meals. It is desirable to distribute the daily portion relatively evenly.

Dilute a serving of collagen in 150-200 ml of water at room temperature and drink in one go. It is not recommended to drink collagen with sweet drinks that contain additional sugar.

The second intake of collagen can be taken in the evening, 2 hours before going to bed.

While taking collagen, it is advisable to minimize the intake of fast carbohydrates and sugar.

To find out how much collagen costs in one form or another, you can go directly to the MST® Nutrition website. There is also a convenient order form for you there. The products are shipped throughout Germany, Europe and worldwide. 

That's a fantastic offer! If MST® Nutrition provides free delivery to the UK for orders over 60 euros on their official website www.mstnutrition.co.uk, then you should definitely take advantage of it. Make sure to check the terms for free delivery on the website and ensure that you meet the minimum order value to qualify for this benefit. Not only does this save you money, but it also allows you to conveniently and affordably order your favorite MST® Nutrition products.

Scientific investigations:

1.NBJ Condition Specific Report`22; Figure extrapolated from: Markets and Markets, “Dietary Supplements” – Global Forecast to 2027/ NBJ, “Global Supplement Business Report“, 2022 

2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.12393
3. Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jmf.2015.0022
4. “The oral intake of specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides has a positive effect on thickness” https://www.nutrafoods.eu/index.php/nutra/article/view/9/6