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As with any dietary supplement, there is a lot of conflicting information out there, some of it true, and some of it completely false. The topic of collagen is no exception. Here at DeepMarine Collagen, we pride ourselves on being completely transparent about our products, and work hard to keep you up to date on the latest research-based information. Here are some of the common myths about collagen, and some of the facts.
Myth Number One – We Need to Consume Different Types of Collagen 1,2 and 3
All marine collagens would be categorized as type 1, but we need to know that our bodies actually produce all of the 28 various types of collagen that we requires.
Type 1 collagen represents more than 90% of the collagen that our bodies produce. However, it’s very important to know that we don’t need to try to consume all of these different collagen types. Some companies market their collagen by promoting it as type I, II or III, but this is entirely a marketing tactic.
Our bodies have special collagen producing cells and their job is to produce all of the various types of collagen that you need. For example, our body’s soft tissues have special cells called fibroblast cells and they have the function of producing collagen for those soft tissues. Our bones have osteoblast cells that produce the collagen that is used to build bone tissue density. Our bodies have the cells that produce all of the different types of collagen that we need.
Collagen supplements are actually collagen proteins that have been broken down into tiny pieces called peptides. The peptides in collagen supplements are like a food for all of those special cells and it helps all of our body’s collagen-producing cells to increase the production of all types of collagen.
Marine collagen peptides stimulate the collagen-producing cells located in your articular cartilage (the cartilage that covers the end of bones in a joint). This helps to make that cartilage stronger and more durable and improves joint function.
Marine collagen supplements also stimulate your body to produce more collagen in the skin’s dermal layer. This provides a stronger foundation and support for your skin’s outer layer. This extra support makes the skin firmer, smoother and stronger and also improves its ability to retain moisture. The health of the skin’s dermal layer also has a profound influence on the health and function of both the follicle and the nail root, improving the health of hair and nails.
So as long as we take a high-quality collagen peptide supplement, our bodies will produce all of the 28 different types of collagen that we need.
Myth Number Two - Collagen and Gelatin Are the Same
Collagen and gelatin are definitely not the same. Gelatin is a type of protein and is made by boiling tendons, ligaments, skin and bones of cows or pigs in water. Gelatin forms a gel-like substance when mixed with water or other liquids and powdered collagen does not. Collagen, because it has been hydrolyzed (broken down) into very small particles, is much easier to digest than gelatin. Because of this small particle size, collagen is easier absorbed by the body than the larger particle size of gelatin. Our DeepMarine Collagen is derived from fish skin, which has a significantly smaller molecular size than that derived from beef or porcine sources. Plus, we add extra filtering steps to our process to ensure our collagen molecules are the smallest possible which makes for greater absorption and better effect.
Myth Number Three - Bone Broth Is the Best Source Of Collagen
In spite of bone broth’s recent surge in popularity, this claim is untrue. There is some collagen in bone broth, as it is extracted into the broth during the long boiling and simmering process of bones and connective tissues of chickens and cows. However, the collagen produced this way has a high molecular weight and is not well absorbed by the body. A full sized collagen molecule has a molecular weight of about 300,000 Daltons
Collagen supplements actually extract the collagen proteins from the source material and then break them down into tiny pieces called peptides. The smaller the peptide, the easier it is to digest and absorb for our bodies to make use of. By comparison, DeepMarine’s collagen peptides have an average molecular weight of 1,700 Daltons – compare that to 300,000 Daltons of a collagen molecule in broth or even most other marine collagens which generally average over 5,000 Daltons
Myth Number Four - Collagen Can Be Made from Plant Sources
Many vegans will naturally look for collagen from plant sources. However, collagen is a protein unique to animals and humans. When one sees a “plant-based collagen” it’s very important to read the ingredients in these products and ensure that they aren’t just extra Vitamin C and zinc etc.
Interestingly, there are also some early reports that collagen can now be manufactured by genetically modifying bacteria and yeast. This involves inserting human genes that code for collagen into the genetics of the microorganisms, which then start to produce collagen building blocks. Next, an enzyme is added to help structure these building blocks into collagen molecules for the final product. This technology is still a ways off from commercialization, but this could be a future collagen supplement source for vegans.
