Collagen powders are labelled "collagen hydrolysate" on one pack, "hydrolysed collagen" on another and "collagen peptides" on a third.
They all mean the same thing. Still, many people wonder what exactly it is and why collagen is hydrolysed in the first place.
In this article we look at how collagen hydrolysate is made and how it differs from "normal" collagen.
What is collagen hydrolysate?
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body. It makes up around 30% of total body protein and forms the framework of skin, bones, cartilage, tendons and ligaments.
In its natural form, collagen is a huge molecule. Three long protein chains twist together like a rope into a triple helix. In this form it can neither be dissolved in water nor used as a powder.
Turning it into collagen hydrolysate takes three steps.
Step 1: Extraction. The collagen is extracted from hides and bones with hot water. This produces gelatine.
Step 2: Enzymatic hydrolysis. Enzymes cut the long protein chains into short pieces. These pieces are called collagen peptides.
Step 3: Filtration and drying. The solution is filtered and dried into a fine powder.
What matters is what does not happen. The collagen is not converted into a different substance. Hydrolysed collagen is collagen, just in smaller pieces.
What is the difference between collagen and collagen hydrolysate?
"Collagen" is an umbrella term. It can refer to three very different forms.
|
Form |
Molecular size |
What this means |
|---|---|---|
|
Native collagen |
very large, approx. 300,000 daltons |
insoluble, intact structure in the tissue |
|
Gelatine |
medium |
dissolves only in warm water, gels as it cools |
|
Collagen hydrolysate |
small, usually below 5,000 daltons |
dissolves cold and warm, does not gel, neutral in taste |
The point is not that gelatine is worse. It provides the same amino acids.
The point is how easy it is to use. Only the hydrolysate dissolves in a cold smoothie or your morning coffee without clumping or gelling.
Collagen type 1 and 3: which types it contains
To date, 28 types of collagen have been described. For food supplements, three are particularly relevant:
Type I: the most common type in the body. It is found in skin, bones, tendons and ligaments.
Type II: occurs mainly in joint cartilage.
Type III: found in skin, blood vessels and organs, usually together with type I.
Which types a collagen hydrolysate contains depends on its source. Bovine collagen provides types I and III, fish collagen mainly type I, chicken cartilage mainly type II.
Collagen amino acids: glycine, proline and hydroxyproline
Collagen has an unusual amino acid profile. Roughly, it looks like this:
Glycine: Almost every third amino acid in collagen is glycine. No other dietary protein provides as much of it.
Proline: Also present in large amounts and typical of collagen.
Hydroxyproline: Occurs in significant amounts almost exclusively in collagen.
Tryptophan: Completely absent. Collagen is therefore not a complete protein.
In short: collagen provides exactly the amino acids that tend to be scarce in a diet with lots of lean muscle meat. It complements your protein intake, but it does not replace meat, eggs or whey.
For your body's own collagen formation, it also needs vitamin C. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones and cartilage.
Collagen hydrolysate: tolerance
Collagen hydrolysate is a food and is generally considered well tolerated.
Occasionally, people report a feeling of fullness or mild digestive discomfort, especially with larger amounts at once. If you are sensitive, start with a smaller serving.
Allergies to beef protein are rare but possible. With fish collagen, a fish allergy needs to be considered.
Discomfort is more often caused by what else is in the product: flavourings, sweeteners, stabilisers or fillers. A pure, unflavoured product is the safer choice here.
What to look for when buying
With collagen powder, a few points make the difference:
Traceable origin. Country, farming method, organic certification. Collagen comes from hides and bones, so how the animals are kept is not a minor detail.
Collagen types declared. If a manufacturer knows what is inside, they put it on the pack.
Ingredient list. Ideally it lists only collagen. You do not need flavourings, sweeteners or fillers.
Our collagen powder comes from grass-fed organic cattle. Only collagen type I and III, nothing else.
Conclusion
Collagen hydrolysate is collagen that has been broken down into small peptides by enzymatic hydrolysis.
As a result, it dissolves in cold and warm drinks and is neutral in taste. It provides plenty of glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, but does not replace a complete protein source.
If you would like to try collagen, it is worth looking at purity and origin.
Frequently asked questions
Is collagen hydrolysate the same as collagen peptides?
Yes. Collagen hydrolysate, hydrolysed collagen and collagen peptides all mean the same thing: collagen that has been broken down into short pieces.
Is hydrolysed collagen better than gelatine?
Both provide the same amino acids. The hydrolysate, however, also dissolves in cold drinks and does not gel, which makes daily use much easier.
Does collagen hydrolysate have side effects?
It is considered well tolerated. Occasionally a feeling of fullness or mild digestive discomfort occurs, and rarely an allergy to the animal source.