What Is Hydrolysed Marine Collagen & How to Get Beautiful Skin 💅 (2025)

Even with just a glimpse into the health and wellness industry, you have surely come across the word ‘collagen’. But did you know that the super protein that has garnered immense attention for its anti-aging effects comes from a plethora of different sources?

That’s right! Collagen can be extracted from fish, cows, pigs, and even yeast and bacteria. With the vast array of collagen supplements available on the market, it can be difficult to pick just one.

Before making your decision, it is important to gather as much information as possible about the alluded“holy grail of skincare”. This means knowing exactly what purpose collagen serves in the human body, why taking supplements is important, and what type of collagen you should be incorporating into your diet.

In this article, we will cover all the details you need to know about collagen, including updates on the hugely popular hydrolysedmarine collagen supplements.

What You Need To Know About Collagen

What is collagen?

Collagen is an insoluble fibrous protein that constitutesone-thirdof the total protein in the human body, making it the most abundant structural protein produced by animals.

This super protein is a major component of the extracellular matrix, as well as structures like bones, tissues, teeth, skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, joints, and the walls of blood vessels.

One collagen molecule comprises three polypeptide chains that intertwine with one another in a triple helix arrangement. The two predominant amino acids that make up the protein structure areglycine, hydroxyproline, and proline.

Collagen is an integral structural unit of the human body because its polypeptide complex grants it incredible tensile strength, without conceding any of the molecule’s flexibility. This enables collagen to withstand large amounts of force.

Due to its role as a supportive protein, collagen is often viewed as the glue that helps hold the body together. The word ‘collagen’ is derived from the Greek word ‘kólla’, meaning glue.

When you are young, your body’s connective tissue cells produce an abundant supply of collagen called endogenous collagen. This collagen forms a network of fibroblast cells in the dermis, which makes your skin smooth, plump, and more elastic.

Why Do You Need Collagen?

Collagen is a vital part of the human body. Its flexibility and water retention capacity make it a major contributing factor to skin smoothness and elasticity.

Studies have indicated that collagen canpromote skin youthfulness,strengthen joints and bones, improve gut health, and even slow down the aging process bypreventing wrinklesand fine lines.

Since it plays an essential part in maintaining internal and external body health, collagen is regarded as an integral protein.

But if collagen production is a natural phenomenon in the human body, what is the point of taking collagen supplements? The answer to this lies in the fact thataround the age of 20, our body’s natural collagen production begins to decrease by 1% each year.

This decrease in collagen production can startas early as the age of 18, and by the age of 40, the effects of collagen deterioration are apparent in most people. Reduced collagen supplies in the body manifest as saggy skin, wrinkles, and thinning hair. By around age 80, your body’s natural collagen production decreases by 75%.

Also, consider how factors beyond aging play a role in the decrease of natural collagen production. These include aspects likeexposure to UV light,smoking, andconsuming too much sugar and processed carbohydrates, all of which eat away at your collagen reserves.

Because of this, it is obvious why collagen supplements are in increasingly high demand in the health and beauty world. Not only do they have anti-aging properties, but edible collagen products can also help promote bone and joint strength and evenprevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

In short, considering the importance of the protein and its decrease in natural production with age, consuming collagen supplements is a pretty good idea.

What Are The Different Types Of Collagen?

Studies have proven that there are as many as28 different types of collagenfound in nature. Out of these, collagen types I, II, and III, make up the majority of collagen naturally found in the human body.

Approximately 90% of the collagen in our bodies consists of collagen type I. For example, it helps form the protein bonds found in skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, and teeth.

Collagen type II is the predominant type of collagen found in cartilage and its primary function is protecting the joints.

Collagen type III is abundant in the skin and provides structural support to connective tissues like intestinal walls and blood vessels.

Along with collagen produced by the human body, collagen is also found in nature in sources like fish, cows, pigs, bacteria, and yeast.Most supplements come from either marine or bovine sources.

Both marine- and bovine-sourced collagen supplements are composed of collagen types I, II, and III, albeit in different ratios, but what is important to remember here is that the source of your collagen is not the same as the type of your collagen.

Marine collagen comes from fish and bovine collagen comes from cattle. Despite being derived from different sources, they both have the same amino acids as the collagen found in humans; however, the ratios of collagen types I, II, and III vary between marine- and bovine-sourced collagen and that found in our bodies.

Within the variety of marine collagen is hydrolysedmarine collagen. This is a form of marine collagen that has been broken down through the process of hydrolysis to produce collagen that has a much lower molecular weight, making it easier for the body to digest.

Theincreased bioavailabilityof hydrolysedmarine collagen provides quicker results as the body can utilise the collagen faster, making hydrolysed marine collagen a favourite amongst collagen supplements.

What Is HydrolysedMarine Collagen?

What is marine collagen?

Marine collagen is predominantly composed of collagen type I, with small amounts of collagen type II, and is sourced from fish skin, bones, and scales. This makes it a rich source of collagen peptides and as such, studies have also proven it to be thebest for consumption.

Once the collagen is extracted from the fish skin, scales, and bones, it is refined to create a flavourlesspowder. This powder can be used as a supplement directly or it can be treated further to create pills, health bars, gummies, or shakes.

Hydrolysedmarine collagen is simply marine collagen that has been processed further to yield marine collagen peptides. These hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides are smaller, more digestible units of the large collagen protein molecule.

Aside from being the most common collagen in the body, type I collagen is also the strongest type found in animals.Its abundance of it makes it easier to be found and produced for consumption, making it more accessible to everyone. The benefits includediminishing wrinkles and fine lines,rejuvenating hair, skin, and nails,restoring skin hydration and elasticity, and speeding up muscle recovery.

Researchhas shown that out of all the collagen supplements availableon the market, hydrolysed marine collagen is the easiest to digest. This is because marine collagen already has the greatest bioavailability out of all other types of collagen supplements. Studies suggest that it isabsorbed 1.5 times more efficiently into the bodybecause of its small particles.

So, if you break down marine collagen even further, the resulting hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides are sure to be absorbed even more successfully, bringing about faster, more obvious results.

How is hydrolysedmarine collagen extracted from marine collagen?

Marine collagen is broken down to give hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides through the process of hydrolysation.

Hydrolysisis a controlled, enzymatic procedure that can take place chemically, by using acids or alkalis; or physically, by using high temperatures to denature the large collagen molecules.

The general process of hydrolysis involves heating the collagen first to denature the helical structure and separate the three polypeptide chains. This denaturation takes place at temperatures above40 °C. After the triple helix has unravelled, the collagen molecule is hydrolysedwith proteolytic enzymes like pepsin, alcalase, and papain. The end product is hydrolysed collagen peptides.

These hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides are usually produced as a tasteless, odourless powder that can be added to hot and cold drinks. Some even come in the form of pills and capsules that can be taken with meals.

The focus of hydrolysis is to break down the large marine collagen particles into smaller particles that have a lower molecular weight. The unit used to quantify the weight and size of particles and molecules is known as a ‘Dalton’.

Generally, collagen molecules are approximately28,500 to 30,000 Daltons,which is too large to be effectively digested by the human body. Breaking these large particles into smaller, more easily digestible units means lowering their molecular weight.

Hydrolysedcollagen peptide molecules weigh approximately2000 to 6000 Daltons. The precise weight of hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides depends on the process of hydrolysis; the more refined the process, the lower the molecular weight of the particles.

Here at VitaBright, our pure type I hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides are formulated to weigh less than 2000 Daltons. As explained above, this means that they are easy to digest and get absorbed. They are guaranteed to show successful results in a short time.

If you want to try out our hydrolysedtype I marine collagen supplement, check out ourMarine Collagen Complex, which contains our unique formulation in an easily ingestible capsule.

What Makes HydrolysedMarine Collagen Different From Marine Collagen?

The key difference between marine collagen and hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides lies in the processing of each supplement.

Hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides are extracted from fish just like marine collagen. Hydrolysedmarine collagen goes through hydrolysis to lower its molecular weight.

Considering they are both sourced from fish, the benefits that marine collagen and hydrolysedmarine collagen supplements provide are very similar to each other. The difference between the two is that hydrolysed marine collagen supplements show results faster due totheir smaller molecules.

Hydrolysedmarine collagen supplements may even show more amplified results since the molecules are absorbed more readily.

What are the benefits of hydrolysedmarine collagen?

So, what are the benefits you can get from taking an easy-to-digest marine collagen supplement?

Look no further—we have made a comprehensive compilation of all the reasons you should take hydrolysedmarine collagen supplements.

Hydrolysedmarine collagen supplements are proven to have strong anti-aging effects. The supplements play an important role in reducing wrinkles and fine lines as it retains water in the tissues to improve skin elasticity. Astudy conducted in 2018showed that when a group of 64 participants was treated with a gram of hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides for 12 weeks, they had a significant decrease in wrinkles and fine lines in comparison to a group that was not treated with the collagen peptides.

Aresearch study conducted in 2013has determined that hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides help build bone strength by increasing the absorption of minerals like calcium and phosphorus that are required for bone growth, and for stimulating osteoblastic activity. Astudy conducted in 2010also determined that hydrolysedcollagen peptides could help in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Hydrolysedmarine collagen peptides help reduce the signs of aging as they are agood source of antioxidants, which means that they grant skin protection from free radical stress and injury.Studieshave also shown that their antioxidant properties can help decrease inflammation.

A researchstudyhas shown that women who took hydrolysedtype I marine collagen supplements sourced from tilapia had smoother, healthier skin, with fewer wrinkles and fine lines. This is because the supplements prevented dermal water loss and damage caused by UV radiation.

Research studieshave also determined that hydrolysedmarine collagen supplements could play an important role in strengthening hair and nails as well as causing an increase in hair growth.

Hydrolysed marine collagen peptides are rich in the amino acid glycine, whichresearch studieshave linked to an enhancement in the quality of sleep.

Arecently conducted studyindicated that type I hydrolysed marine collagen may also have antibacterial effects that help in the prevention and treatment of staphylococcus infection.

Hydrolysed marine collagen is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option when compared to collagen supplements sourced from animals like cows. According to data collected by the UN,nearly 50 million tons of fish are wasted every year. If these were used to make collagen supplements, not only would it be cost-effective, but it will also be good for the environment. Adding to this, fish protein releases fewer greenhouse gasses than most other meat products including cow products.

Hydrolysed Marine Collagen – Wrapping Up

At the end of the day, whatever type of collagen supplements you choose, you can be confident knowing that with consistent use, you are helping your body age gracefully and maintain its strength and stamina.

When it comes to deciding the type of collagen supplement you should use, hydrolysed marine collagen peptides are a great option because they are easy to ingest and absorb. They also promise satisfying results in a short amount of time.

Whatever supplement you decide to take, you must do your research on the product and its sources so that you can ensure its quality, cleanliness, effects, and any potential side effects.

You have already taken the first step in taking charge of your health by looking into collagen, why you might need collagen supplements, and what makes hydrolysed marine collagen peptides a great option. This is an important step in empowering yourself with the knowledge needed to make the choice that fits you best.