One area that has particularly caught my attention is collagen supplementation. Two items that have been on labels are hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptides, and I have always wondered what makes them different from each other.

Understanding the Differences Between Hydrolyzed Collagen and Collagen Peptides: How They Have Personally Benefited Me

My interest in health and wellness has always led me to spend hours on the internet researching and learning about different supplements. Who doesn’t want to look young, beautiful, and healthy?

One area that has particularly caught my attention is collagen supplementation. Two items that have been on labels are hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptides, and I have always wondered what makes them different from each other. In doing my research, I have come to realize that there are some differences. Let’s start with what collagen is.

What in the world is collagen?

Collagen is found in 25%–35% of the whole-body protein content and is the most abundant protein in the human body. It can be found in your skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments and is responsible for healthy ligaments and stretchiness.

Collagen is important and provides structure, strength, and elasticity. As we get older, our body’s natural collagen production declines, which leads to signs of aging.

We start to get wrinkles, our joints hurt, and the elasticity in our skin declines, so we look sagging and thin-skinned. Throughout the year, collagen supplements gained popularity because they helped mitigate the effects of aging.

Where can we find collagen?

We can find collagen in two main sources:

• Animal Sources:

Extracted from animal sources such as pigs, chickens, cows, and fish, animal collagen sources help supply raw material for hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptide supplements.

• Food Sources:

We can also find natural sources of collagen in bone broth, chicken and fish skin, and gelatin. These foods contain collagen, which helps the body’s own collagen production.

There are many types of collagen in the human body, each with specific roles and locations, but we are going to focus on two particular ones today. The difference between hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptides Let’s get right into it!

Hydrolyzed collagen and its benefits:

Hydrolyzed collagen is a form of collagen that has undergone a process called hydrolysis and is also known as collagen hydrolysate. During hydrolysis, collagen is broken down into smaller chains of amino acids, making it easier for the body to absorb and utilize. This process not only improves the bioavailability of collagen but also ensures it can be effectively used by various tissues. Hydrolyzed collagen promotes the synthesis of new collagen in the skin and joints, improves body composition, and builds lean muscle better than any other protein source.

Benefits of Hydrolyzed Collagen:

1. Improved Absorption: The hydrolyzed collagen process breaks down collagen into smaller peptides, making it easier for your digestive system to absorb and transport them to where your body needs them most.
2. Keeps Your Joints Healthy: Hydrolyzed collagen studies have proven that it can aid in supporting joint health and reducing inflammation in your body while helping repair cartilage.
3. Healthier Skin: It aids and improves skin elasticity, hydrating your skin and minimizing the look of wrinkles, making you look younger.
4. Strengthens Bones: It also supports healthier bones by increasing bone mineral density and reducing the risk of osteoporosis, which is a serious medical condition that leads to fractures and a decrease in bone density and the quality of your bones.

So, what are collagen peptides, and what makes them different from hydrolyzed collagen?

Hydrolyzed Collagen and Collagen Peptides and Their Benefits:

After a lot of research, I have understood that collagen peptides are a particular type of hydrolyzed collagen. They are the hydrolysis of hydrolyzed collagen but with shorter chains of amino acids. Typically, all collagen peptides are hydrolyzed, but not all hydrolyzed collagens reach the small peptide form.

Benefits of Collagen Peptides:

1. Formulated to have High Bioavailability: Because of their small molecular size, collagen peptides have high bioavailability, which means they aid the body in absorbing more of the nutrients without having to take larger doses. So, they are more efficient and effective.
2. Versatile: Because collagen can be added to various food and beverage products and doesn’t change the taste or texture of these items, it is popular as a supplement option and makes them extremely.
3. Muscle Recovery: Collagen peptides help your muscles recover and grow by providing essential amino acids that help repair muscles.
4. Healthy Gut: It can also assist in maintaining a healthy gut by reducing inflammation and supporting the integrity of the intestinal lining.

After going over the key benefits of hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptides, what makes them so different?

After extensive research, I have found that hydrolyzed collagen undergoes partial hydrolysis, while collagen peptides undergo complete hydrolysis, which creates smaller peptide chains. They are both created for better absorption compared to native collagen, but due to collagen peptides being so small, they offer better bioavailability. Also, collagen peptides are more versatile in food and beverage supplements because of their neutral taste and how easy it is to integrate them into different dishes and drinks, while hydrolyzed collagen is often used in a wide variety of beauty products and supplements.

While they are similar in many ways, they both have their own unique differences in aiding a variety of health benefits. What are the benefits of using collagen supplements?

Benefits of Collagen Supplements:

• Joint Health and Arthritis:

Collagen supplements support joint health by reducing inflammation in your body. If you’re like me, I have constantly had random inflammation in my body due to stress and an autoimmune disease. One thing I can control is reducing my inflammation as best I can with supplements (either which you choose to call hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptide), a better diet, and sleep. These supplements also improve joint mobility and aid in repairing cartilage. These supplements are beneficial for people with arthritis and anyone wanting to maintain healthy joints.

• Skin Health:

Taking collagen supplements is known for improving skin elasticity, hydration, and reducing wrinkles. If you would like to look younger and improve the sagginess of your skin, these supplements are perfect for you.

• Bone Health:

They also support bone health by increasing bone mineral density and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

• Muscle mass and sports performance:

If you are exercising or a sports enthusiast, collagen supplements provide essential amino acids that help in muscle repair and growth, supporting muscle recovery after exercise. To enhance performance and recovery, athletes and fitness enthusiasts often use.

• Gut Health:

If you have issues with your gut, collagen peptides can help maintain the integrity of the gut lining, support gut health, and reduce inflammation.

• Hair and nail health:

Due to my autoimmune disease, my hair has become so thin and my nails so brittle. Taking collagen supplements has strengthened my hair and nails, promoted hair growth, and reduced my nail brittleness.

• Healing Wounds:

One reason I personally take collagen supplements is because of how long it takes for my wounds to heal, and they typically scar over. Collagen supplements have helped the healing process of my wounds by promoting tissue regeneration.

With all the benefits, how do you pick the right supplement to help keep you healthy and looking young?

How to Choose the Right Supplement:

How do you know which supplement is best for you? Easy. Understand what your specific health goals are and what your specific preferences are. Both hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptides offer a wide range of benefits, as we discussed above, but collagen peptides are best for people looking for maximum absorption and have various ways of consumption. Also, ensure you check where the supplements are sourced, if they are pure, and if they have any additional ingredients. These are important for many reasons, including minimizing contamination, ensuring the supplements are effective, reducing ingesting harmful substances, and being able to align your dietary preferences, health goals, and if you have any specific health conditions with the chosen supplement.

Different forms of collagen supplements:

These are four different forms of collagen supplements that are used by all.

1. Collagen powder supplements:

The collagen powder supplements are the most common as they are easy to add to your smoothies, coffee, and teas and can be added as an ingredient to baking recipes as they have no taste or texture. These powders are great to use in your morning coffee or as a sweet treat.

1. Collagen Capsules:

These capsules can be added to your daily intake of multivitamins and any other vitamins you take throughout the day.

1. Liquid Collagen:

Liquid collagen supplements are pre-dissolved, which means they have already been dissolved in liquid form, which makes it easier for the body to absorb compared to collagen powder or collagen capsules. These can be taken directly or added to any beverage.

1. Gummies:

These are nice and tasty options to take. Collagen gummies are popular with those who have difficulty swallowing pills.

With so many versatile forms of collagen supplements, how do you know what the recommended dosage is? This varies, but generally speaking, it is suggested to take collagen supplements of 10–20 grams per day. I highly advise you to read the instructions and guidelines of the product you purchase, follow their recommendations, and always consult a healthcare provider for any personalized advice and suggestions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as you see above, hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptides offer a range of health benefits, especially for skin, joint, bone, and gut health. For those who are looking to aid in their body’s collagen needs, they have enhanced absorption and bioavailability. Whether you are choosing hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides, these supplements are great to incorporate in your daily life along with natural and healthy food sources of collagen, which will help you maintain a healthy body and overall wellness. As recommended, ensure you choose high-quality products and always consult with a healthcare provider to make sure they are the right supplements for your individual health needs.

Start now and ensure you aid in supporting your body’s elasticity, fight the natural decline of collagen in your body, and ensure you stay radiant and healthier for a longer time!

Blog By Maddie

Reviewed By Dr. Sorour Sorour, Orthopedic Surgeon, MD