Collagen type - does it matter?

Does it matter what type of collagen is in a collagen supplement?

It is a fact that different parts of our bodies contain different amounts of the different types of collagen. Type I is most common, but there is, for example, more type II collagen in the tissues of our joints. Because of this, many manufacturers of collagen supplements advertise the fact that their product contains type II or type III collagen and claim that this makes it more effective for certain purposes. But does it matter what type of collagen is in a collagen supplement?

In this article, we will look at what happens in the human body when collagen is consumed and investigate whether a dietary supplement with a certain collagen type can trigger the synthesis (production) of the same collagen type.

How many types of collagen are there?

You might be surprised to learn that there are actually more than 28 different types of collagen in the human body. About 90% of that collagen, however, is type I, which is found pretty much everywhere where collagen is needed. This includes:

• Skin
• Skeleton
• Arterial walls
• Cartilage
• Connective tissue*

*Connective tissue is the building material that provides stability and holds cells, organs and tissues together. Connective tissue is made up of collagen and elastin. Collagen makes connective tissue strong and durable, while elastin makes it elastic.

The other collagen types that are most common are type II and III. The former is mainly found in tendons, ligaments and cartilage, while the latter is found in, for example, muscles, blood vessels and intestines. We also have small amounts of type IV and V in some skin layers, some organs, hairs and in the placenta.

What happens to the collagen in our bodies?

The different types of collagen provide structure and elasticity to the tissues they are found in. This is important for maintaining the integrity, appearance and function of these tissues. Without collagen, our bones become brittle, our skin becomes dry and wrinkled, our arteries harden, our joints become sore and painful. High levels of collagen are a protective factor against osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and even arterial disease, as well as slowing down the aging of the skin.

As we age, our collagen levels naturally decrease. This is exacerbated by certain lifestyle factors such as sun exposure, smoking and stress. Gradually this leads to early signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles in the skin, stiff joints and the like. In addition to this, the symptoms of low collagen become more severe and we become more vulnerable to serious health problems and show more pronounced signs of aging.

What difference does the type of collagen in a dietary supplement make?

The simple answer to this question is: none.

The main difference between the collagen types is how the collagen fibers are coiled. The amino acid content is quite similar from one type of collagen to another. When we consume collagen peptides in a supplement, the collagen is broken down in the small intestine and enters the bloodstream as collagen peptides or individual amino acids. The blood carries these nutrients to the cells where they are used by the body to be used for a variety of things, including creating collagen. Sometimes the same amino acids can be used for healing, supporting brain or hormone function, helping to build muscle, etc. When they are used for collagen synthesis, there is no telling what type of collagen they will be used for.

So in other words, consuming type III collagen does not mean you will automatically produce more type III collagen. It can be compared to saying that if you ate meat from the leg muscles of an animal, it will give you bigger leg muscles. The science simply does not support the claim that consuming a certain type of collagen will give you more of that particular collagen.

So the type of collagen doesn't matter at all?

Although consuming a certain type of collagen will not cause your body to produce more of that type, there may still be a benefit to consuming a certain type of collagen. Type I collagen is the most abundant in our bodies (by far) and there is evidence that it is also the most bioavailable form of collagen. This may be because it most closely resembles the molecular structure of the majority of the collagen in our own bodies. Whatever the reason, there are studies that indicate that type I collagen is absorbed faster in our bodies.

This is one of the reasons why Celloptimum's collagen contains marine collagen and bovine collagen type 1. Collagen from fish consists exclusively of collagen type I and our bovine collagen also consists of type 1, therefore we use both marine collagen and bovine collagen of the highest quality quality in the highest possible dose in each portion of our various collagen complexes. From this point of view, there is evidence that the type of collagen you consume makes a difference.

Are there any exceptions?

There is limited evidence that undenatured type II collagen may be an exception to this claim. These collagen molecules are not broken down into peptides and do not pass into the blood from the small intestine. Instead, it is believed that they can trigger an immune response that leads to signals being sent around the body to stimulate collagen production that is entirely focused on the joints.

The theory behind this is that the amino acids in undenatured collagen type II are bound together in a slightly different way. The difference in the molecular structure can therefore contribute to a different reaction in the small intestine. If this is true, it could open the door to other discoveries in collagen supplementation, but there is still much more research to be done before this theory can be properly verified.

What is important when choosing a collagen supplement?

When looking for the best collagen supplements to get the benefits you want, it's more a matter of quality and content than type of collagen. Your body will break down any protein you feed it, so the main benefit of collagen proteins is that they contain an abundance of the specific amino acids needed for collagen synthesis (glycine, proline and hydroxyproline). So when you buy a collagen supplement, you should take a closer look at the quality of the collagen, the amount of collagen and whether the collagen complex contains other ingredients that add value to your specific needs.

It is important that you as a consumer choose a brand that is very transparent about which collagen is used in your dietary supplement.

Celloptimum uses collagen from the two largest players on the market, Gelita and Rousselot with the well-known and patented brands Peptan ® and Verisol ® . Celloptimum's collagen supplement contains collagen that is of the highest quality and purity.

What else makes Celloptimum stand out?

In addition to the fact that Celloptimum's collagen complex contains collagen peptides of the highest quality, there are many other reasons to choose dietary supplements with collagen from Celloptimum. As mentioned, our dietary supplements contain collagen of the highest quality and type I. The daily dose of our collagen complexes with collagen peptides varies between 5000 mg - 10000 mg, depending on which collagen supplement you choose. Science has shown that an optimal collagen intake is at least 5,000 mg per day, to achieve the best effect.

The stories from our verified buyers include improvements to skin, hair, nails, joints, gut health, immune system, sleep, weight balance, bone density, muscle mass and more. Among our customers are people with various types of health challenges such as stomach problems, IBS and dermatitis or chronic conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis. They include athletes, menopausal and postmenopausal women, and men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

Learn more about Celloptimum's collagen complex

For more information about Celloptimum and collagen in general, we invite you to explore our website. We have detailed product and brand information, unedited customer reviews on our product pages, and an articles page that takes a deep dive into all things collagen. We also encourage our customers to live a healthier life by contributing informative articles, and also recommend collagen supplements that are right for your needs. We offer unique blends with collagen for specific needs such as:

• Collagen complex for stomach health
• Collagen complex for skin health, hair health and nail health
• Pure collagen peptides + vitamin C for joint health a
• Collagen complex for immune health
• Collagen complex weight health
• Collagen complex for sleep health

If you still have any questions, please visit our contact page to contact us . We'd love to hear from you and our team is ready to give you the answers you're looking for.