What is Collagen?

What is collagen?

It is the substance that holds the body together - the name collagen, comes from the Greek(kólla), meaning "glue", and suffix -γέν, -gen, denoting "producing".

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, made up of amino acids and found mainly in tendons, joint and skin. There are different Types of Collagen in our bodies with 80-90% being types Type I, II and III. Type I being the most abundant, it is fibrous and can be stretched without breaking and is mainly found in skin.

What is Hydrolysis? What are Collagen Peptides?  

Collagen peptides are small bioactive peptides. These are obtained through an enzymatic process called hydrolysis. This process reduces the collagen protein into small peptides with a weight of lower than 5000DA. This allows greater bio availability, making the protein easily digestible.

What is the difference between Native Collagen, Gelatin and Collagen Peptides? 

Collagen can be found in many grades, from native collagen, gelatin to collagen peptide. These grades differ in solubility, digestibility and absorption.

Native collagen consists of large triple amino acids and have a molecular weight of around 300-400kDa. They are mainly used in medical materials such as sponges for wounds.    

Gelatin is partially hydrolysed collagen with a molecular weight of 50kDa. Gelatin only dissolves in hot water and solidifies when chilled. This grade of protein is used in bone broth, sauce thickeners and desserts such as jellies. 

Collagen Peptides are obtained through further hydrolysis of gelatin. The molecules are further broken to form peptides until they are 5000Da in weight or finer. Thus allowing them to be water soluble, bioavailable, bioactive and hence, easily digestible for the human body.   

Some studies suggest that hydrolysed collagen peptides send messages to cells to trigger the synthesis of more collagen. Clinical studies have shown hydrolysed collagen peptides have numerous health benefits linked to skin, hair, nails, joints, bones and weight management and can be found in supplemented foods and beverages and dietary supplements. 

Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides have a unique amino acid break down. 

Around 50% of the total amino acid profile is made up of glycine, proline and hydroxyproline. This unique amino acids profile provides hydrolyzed collagen with benefits that cannot be found with other protein sources.

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