Understanding Collagen Peptides: What you Need to Know
Collagen, you see it everywhere now in the worlds of beauty and overall wellbeing. But the terminology surrounding collagen can still be confusing. Collagen, collagen peptides and hydrolysed collagen are often used interchangeably, even though they describe slightly different things.
Understanding these terms makes it easier to read product labels and compare formulations to know what you are taking.
So, what exactly are collagen peptides, how are they made, and why does the distinction matter?
What Are Collagen Peptides?
Collagen peptides are smaller fragments of collagen produced through hydrolysis - a process that breaks the larger collagen structure into shorter chains of amino acids. They are commonly used in nutritional supplements, including powders, capsules and liquid formulations.
Collagen vs Collagen Peptides: What Is the Difference?
Although the terms are related, they do not describe exactly the same form of collagen:
| COLLAGEN | COLLAGEN PEPTIDES |
|---|---|
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A large structural protein found naturally in the body and in animal tissues
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Smaller protein fragments derived from collagen
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Has a complex, triple-helix structure
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Produced by breaking down the larger collagen structure
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Not generally used in its intact form in nutritional supplements
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Commonly used in collagen supplements
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Must be broken down during digestion
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Already broken down into shorter peptide chains
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Both originate from collagen; the key difference is the form in which they are found.
The difference is particularly relevant when reading supplement labels, where hydrolysed collagen and collagen peptides generally refer to the same processed form of collagen.
Not all collagen peptide products are the same. Their characteristics can vary according to the original collagen source and the manufacturing process.
What Does Hydrolysed Collagen Mean?
Understanding Common Collagen Terminology
These collagen types have different distributions and structural roles in the body and are not interchangeable.
Hydrolysis breaks down the collagen into smaller peptides which are easier to digest and absorb. However, not all hydrolysed collagen is the same. The collagen source, manufacturing process and resulting peptides can vary.
Collagen Peptides in GOLD COLLAGEN®
Since 2011, GOLD COLLAGEN® has used hydrolysed collagen in its liquid supplements, combining it with carefully selected ingredients suitable for each formulation to offer the best range of nutritional supplements.
The collagen source is only one part of the formulation. How the collagen is processed, together with the combination of ingredients also contributes to the nuances of each formula.
Vitamin C, for example, contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin, cartilage and bones.
The Takeaway
Collagen and collagen peptides are closely related, but they are not quite the same. Collagen is the structural protein found in the body, while collagen peptides are smaller fragments produced through hydrolysis.
Understanding the terminology can help make sense of supplement labels and the differences between formulations. It's also a good starting point when considering the collagen source, processing and combination of ingredients in a product.
The details matter. Knowing what's inside the formulation, and why, gives you a more complete picture and helps you select the nutritional supplement that best suits you.