Before we dive deeper into the differences between Marine and Fish collagen, we should take a quick look at what collagen is.
Collagen: What is it?
Collagen is a protein formed of long-chain amino acids and is responsible for the structure, function and mechanical properties of the epidermis, cartilage and tendons.
Picture of collagen triple helix
http://aris.gusc.lv/NutritionBioChem/bio_chemistry/images/Collagen.jpg
Behind water, collagen is the largest component in the human body and the largest structural protein in the extracellular matrix in the human body. Collagen breaks down due to ageing and exposure to UV light. The degradation of collagen can begin from the age of 25, leading to the loss of elasticity in the skin and reduced cell turnover. Current evidence suggests that supplementing with collagen can reduce the symptoms associated with lack of collagen including: fine lines, wrinkles, inflammation and stiff joints.
The 3 most common types of collagen are:
● Type I – Found in the body, artery and corneas – the most abundant collagen in the body
● Type II – Found in cartilage and makes up to 50%
● Type III – Found in the epidermis, artery walls and internal organs
Fish collagen comes under Type I collagen and is a popular choice in the health and beauty industry as it can be absorbed up to 1.5 times more efficiently and its bio-availability is superior than collagen derived from bovine and porcine sources (Khan et al., 2009), meaning a better anti-ageing influence.