Marine collagen vs bovine collagen - which is best?

Learn what's the beef between bovine and marine collagen.

TekstEmilia Moskal

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Emilia Moskal

Natu.Care Editor

Emilia Moskal specialises in medical and psychological texts, including content for medical entities. She is a fan of simple language and reader-friendly communication. At Natu.Care, she writes educational articles.

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RecenzjaIlona Bush

Verified by an expert

Recenzja

Ilona Bush

Master of Pharmacy

Ilona Krzak obtained her Master of Pharmacy degree from the Medical University of Wrocław. She did her internship in a hospital pharmacy and in the pharmaceutical industry. She is currently working in the profession and also runs an educational profile on Instagram: @pani_z_apteki

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RedakcjaBart Turczynski

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Bart Turczynski

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Fact-checkingLudwik Jelonek

Fact-checking

Ludwik Jelonek

Natu.Care Editor

Ludwik Jelonek is the author of more than 2,500 texts published on leading portals. His content has found its way into services such as Ostrovit and Kobieta Onet. At Natu.Care, Ludwik educates people in the most important area of life - health.

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Marine collagen vs bovine collagen - which is best?

03 December, 2024

Recenzja19 June, 2023

Redakcja30 June, 2023

Fact-checking15 June, 2023

Learn more about our editorial process

9 min

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Collagen is not equal to collagen. Factors such as the source of collagen and the methods used to process it affect the effectiveness of a supplement. How is it with beef collagen?

Bovine collagen can be found in many products. It is a good substitute for the best-absorbed fish collagen and is recommended for people who do not want or cannot take marine-derived youth protein. The key to its effectiveness is the form - ideally, your supplement should contain collagen hydrolysate, or fragmented molecules called peptides.

From this article you will learn:

Whether beef collagen is worth taking.
What are the best beef collagens on the market.
Which foods you will find the most beef collagen in.
What are the best foods to take?

See also:

Properties of bovine collagen

Consuming beef collagen can help maintain healthy skin: increasing its elasticity, hydration and even reducing existing wrinkles. Collagen also benefits the condition of hair and nails - making them more resistant to harmful external factors and providing shine.

Beef collagen contains amino acids such as proline and glycine, which can benefit joint and bone health and help treat diseases related to the musculoskeletal system.

Collagen also has additional health-promoting properties -- it exhibits antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.

Ilona Krzak Master of Pharmacy

Collagen is an important structural component of muscle fibres and bone tissue. It is also worth taking after training, as it supports muscle regeneration. It can also influence faster recovery of skin, joints and muscles after injury or illness.

Collagen is one of the factors involved in proper wound healing. Collagen supplementation provides the necessary amino acids for endogenous synthesis of this protein and just stimulates its production.

Ilona Krzak Master of Pharmacy

Important

Pharmacist Ilona Krzak is careful to always choose beef collagen products from reliable, certified sources.

Cows can transmit bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease), as well as the transmissible variant of the disease. The disease can cause life-threatening infections in humans.

Ilona Krzak Master of Pharmacy

Best beef collagen - ranking

If you don't want to or can't take marine-derived collagen (e.g. due to allergies) or are particularly concerned about muscle and bone support we have prepared a list of the best beef collagen for you. See what we took into account when choosing our suggestions:

Criteria:

Dose of collagen - too low a dose will not produce the expected results.
Dose of collagen - too low a dose will not produce the expected results.
Additional active ingredients - presence of substances that complement the action of collagen.
Purity and simplicity of formulation - no unnecessary fillers or colourings.
Form of administration -we've taken care of the choice so you can find a supplementation method you like.
Flavour - a poor taste in even the best product will make it not work...because you won't want to use it. Here you will see the full criteria

Best for joints

Natu.Care Collagen Premium 10000 mg, cherry

5.0

Collagen content: 10,000 mg of hydrolyzed bovine collagen
Additional active ingredients: vitamin C, low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, chondroitin, extract of Indian frankincense resin (boswellia serrata)
Form: powder sachets for drinking
Serving: 1 sachet per day
Lasts for: 30 days

See price

Product description

One of the strongest collagens on the market, providing as much as 10,000 mg per daily serving. This product can effectively support the condition of joints, skin, hair, and nails.

With this supplement, you will support your skeletal and joint system as well as your beauty, helping you visually halt the aging process and feel rejuvenated!

Pros and cons

Pros:

The daily portion of collagen is very large – as much as 10,000 mg.
Proven collagen formula – COLLinstant, whose effectiveness has been confirmed in clinical studies.
Effective dose of hyaluronic acid, which additionally moisturizes the skin and positively affects joint health.
Vitamin C supports the body's natural collagen production.
Glucosamine is a fundamental building block of compounds found in joint cartilage and a component of collagen that gives elasticity to connective tissue in tendons.
Chondroitin is a natural component found in the human body, mainly in cartilage. This large molecule (mucopolysaccharide) has the ability to absorb water, which helps maintain the elasticity and resilience of cartilage.
Frankincense resin extract supports blood circulation and joint mobility and reduces their stiffness. It may help alleviate inflammatory conditions.
The composition has been tested by the independent and accredited J.S. Hamilton laboratory.

Cons:

None.

Additional information

Users praise Natu.Care Collagen Premium for the easy dissolving of the powder.

ALLDEYNN Collagen Collarose shot

4.4

Collagen content: 5000 mg hydrolysate of bovine collagen
Additional active ingredients: vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, biotin
Form: liquid
Dose: 1 shot per day
Sufficient for: one time use

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Product description

Beef collagen hydrolysate in a 5 g daily portion will support joints, muscles and bones. It is recommended for active people whoóre constantly exploiting the musculoskeletal system. Collagen also improves the appearance of the skinóry, nails and hairów.

Pros and cons

Additional information

Expert and user opinion

COLLIBRE Beauty Drink

4.2

Collagen content: 10,000 mg hydrolyzed collagen beef collagen
Additional active ingredients: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, silicon
Form: shots
Dose: 1 shot per day (140 ml)
Sufficient for: 30 days

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Product description

The dietary supplement from COLLIBRE contains Swiss collagen hydrolysate in a high daily dose of 10,000 mg. In addition, the formula provides vitamins and silicon thatósupport the health of hairóskinóand nails.

Pros and cons

Additional information

User review

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The best beef collagen

ALLDEYNN Collarose 5000 mg

4.4

Collagen content: 5000 mg collagen hydrolysate of beef VERISOL B®
Additional active ingredients: vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, biotin
Form: powder to dissolve in water
Dose: one scoop (6 g) of powder daily
Sufficient for: 50 days

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Product description

Regular drinking beef collagen improves skin hydration and firmness and will slow down the ageing process. Nails will become stronger and stop breaking. The addition of biotin will improve the condition of the hairóy and vitamin C will increase the natural production of collagen in the body. The dose of collagen is high enough that it will also have a good effect on joints, muscles and bones.

Pros and cons

Additional information

Expert and user opinion

SOLVE LABS Collagen Peptides

4.2

Collagen content: 6000 mg hydrolyzed beef collagen type I and III COLLinstant®
Additional active ingredients: hyaluronic acid
Form: powder
Dose: one scoop (6 g) daily
Sufficient for: 30 days

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Product description

High-quality hydrolysate of bovine collagen (types I and III). Thanks to the COLLinstant® collagen peptide extraction technology, the preparation is well absorbed.

The combination of collagen and hyaluronic acid has a beneficial effect on the appearance of your skinóry. Your complexion will become firmer, moisturised and wrinkles will become shallower. The effects can also be felt on your hair: it becomes soft and shiny. The nail plate will regain its healthy appearance.

A daily serving will support the health of your jointsós, bones and muscles.

Pros and cons

High-quality hydrolysate of bovine collagen (types I and III). Thanks to the COLLinstant® collagen peptide extraction technology, the preparation is well absorbed.

A daily serving will support the health of your jointsós, bones and muscles.

Additional information

High-quality hydrolysate of bovine collagen (types I and III). Thanks to the COLLinstant® collagen peptide extraction technology, the preparation is well absorbed.

A daily serving will support the health of your jointsós, bones and muscles.

User review

High-quality hydrolysate of bovine collagen (types I and III). Thanks to the COLLinstant® collagen peptide extraction technology, the preparation is well absorbed.

A daily serving will support the health of your jointsós, bones and muscles.

ALLDEYNN Collagen Collarose caps

4.3

Collagen content: 2640 mg of hydrolysate beef collagen VERISOL B®
Additional active ingredients: vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, biotin
Form: capsules
Dose: 6 capsules daily
Sufficient for: 30 days

See price

Product description

Beef collagen has a positive effect on the condition and appearance of the skinóry. It reduces fine lines and wrinkles and prevents the formation of new ones. It moisturises and firms the skinóhand, giving it a radiant appearance. It also supports a strong nail plate and beautiful hairów.

Pros and cons

Additional information

Expert opinion

For sucking

Deynn collagen Collarose Fish lozenges

4.4

Collagen content: 5000 mg of VERISOL® bovine collagen hydrolysate;
Additional active ingredients: biotin, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid
Form: tablets
Dose: 180 tablets
Sufficient for: 30 days

See price

Product description

Don't like swallowing capsules? Go ahead and buy collagen in the form of suction tablets. Ideal if all you swallow is an extra kilometre in your workout or 1 kg more in a weight series. A convenient form with 5 g of collagen per daily serving. Enhance the effect of the tablets with vitamin C and enjoy freedom of movement and faster muscle recovery.

Pros and cons

Additional information

See also:

Which collagen is better: fish or bovine collagen?

According to research, fish collagen is better for the human body than bovine collagen. This is because collagen extracted from fish is most similar in structure to the collagen found in our bodies. This makes it much better absorbed in the intestines, especially in hydrolysed form.

In contrast, a 2017 studyand shows that bovine collagen has the best effect on muscle and bone, while fish collagen is more effective on joints.

Beef collagen is the most commonly used collagen due to its availability in the industry and its biocompatibility.

Ilona Krzak Master of Pharmacy

See also:

In what products is bovine collagen found?

In dietary supplements, beef collagen is most commonly sourced from cartilage, tendons, lungs, and cow bones, the stuff most of us consistently leave on the edge of our plate. Fortunately beef meat is also a good source of collagen

Beef collagen extracted from Achilles tendon exhibits antihypertensive, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.

Ilona Krzak Master of Pharmacy

According to a Polish studyand the most collagen protein was found in the longest back muscle (musculus longissimus dorsi), i.e. tasty sirloin. Beef offal will also be rich in collagen.

If you shudder at the thought of tripe, you may be tempted to prepare another soup - beef broth. Properly prepared, it too will be a treasure trove of collagen

It is worth emphasising, however, that collagen soup, is not the same as hydrolysed collagen. It will be denatured, i.e. the triple helix will separate, but further from that the smaller molecules will not, which are much better absorbed.

Ilona Krzak Master of Pharmacy

Beef collagen decoction

To ensure that beef stock contains as much collagen as possible, it is best to make it from marrow bones and cook it for a long time. Check out our simple recipe:

Ingredients:

3 kg beef marrow bones with meat
2 large carrots
parsley
small onion
a piece of celery
about 3 litres of water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
spices: salt, pepper, bay leaves, allspice, lovage, a pinch curcuma

Making:

Diligently wash the bones and meat, place in a pot and cover with water.
Pour water over the meat.
Peel and cut the vegetables into quarters. Add to the pot.
Then add the spices. Don't forget the vinegar or lemon juice - it will help the collagen to release from the bones, cartilage and tendons.
Then add the vinegar or lemon juice.
Cook the stock on low heat for a minimum of 3 hours (the longer, the better). The recommended cooking time is up to 6-8 hours.

Broth prepared this way will not only help rebuild collagen in the body, but will also provide hyaluronic acid, magnesium, potassium, sulfur organic matter (MSM) and calcium. Will you try it?

See also:

Summary

Beef collagen can effectively support the appearance of your skin and the health of your joints, muscles and bones.
Beef collagen is recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to take fish-derived collagen.
Most collagen is found in the hides, cartilage and tendons of cattle. Beef tenderloin and offal are also good sources of it.
To supplement collagen through your diet, you can prepare a nutritious collagen broth on beef bones.

FAQ

What is the difference between bovine collagen and fish collagen?

As you can easily guess, bovine collagen differs from fish collagen (also known as marine collagen) primarily by its origin. Marine collagen is extracted from fish and sea creatures, while bovine collagen is extracted from cattle. However, these are not the only differences.

Collagens these differ in structure - the protein of collagen fish collagen is more similar to human collagen. It also has less frequent chemical bonds, so it is better dissolved and absorbed in the gut.

Is bovine collagen healthy?

Yes, beef collagen is healthy, and its supplementation can have positive effects on the appearance skin and hair. In the right dose, it will also work on joints, muscles and bones. For best results, take collagen in the hydrolysed form

What is bovine collagen?

Beef collagen bovine collagen is a natural protein found in the skin, cartilage, tendons, muscles, bones, and internal organs of cattle. It is responsible for maintaining the structure and elasticity of tissues. Beef collagen is used in the food and cosmetic industries.

Does beef have collagen?

Yes, beef does contain collagen, although the amounts are lower than in cartilage or skin, for example. If you want to add collagen-rich beef to your diet beef, sirloin is best.

Which collagen is the healthiest?

The healthiest collagen is collagen hydrolysate of fish origin, preferably from animals living in clean waters. Such a product is Natu.Care's Premium Collagen (5000 mg). Thanks to its low molecular weight, it is easily absorbed into the body. It is also free from contaminants that fish living in small farmed tanks may contain.

What not to combine collagen with.

Interactions collagen supplements with medications most often involve the additives in their formulation, not the collagen itself. However, if you are taking medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting collagen supplementation

What are the symptoms of collagen deficiency?

The most common and noticeable symptoms of collagen deficiency are a popping in the joints (e.g. when squatting), as well as loss of skin firmness and the appearance of wrinkles. Deficiencies of this protein may also be evidenced by weak, dull hair, brittle nails or slower wound healing.

Magister of Pharmacy Ilona Krzak adds not to use collagen with tannins. They bind proteins, polysaccharides and minerals preventing their absorption. Foods containing tannins are strong leafy teas or unripe fruits. Tannins can be found in blueberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, grapes, apples and pulses.

Sources

See all

Beghé, F., Menicagli, C., Neggiani, P., Zampieri, A., Trallori, L., Teta, E., & Rosini, S. (1992). Lyophilized non-denatured type-I collagen (Condress) extracted from bovine Achilles' tendon and suitable for clinical use. International Journal of Tissue Reactions, 14 Suppl, 11-19. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1639581/

Bovine Collagen vs Marine Collagen. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://www.justvitamins.co.uk/blog/bovine-collagen-vs-marine-collagen/

Domaradzki, P., SKAŁECKI, P., Florek, M., & Litwińczuk, Z. (2010). Relationship between collagen and selected technological parameters of calf meat. Zywnosc: Nauka, Technologia, Jakosc, 4, 50-62. https://doi.org/10.15193/zntj/2010/71/050-062

León-López, A., Morales-Peñaloza, A., Martínez-Juárez, V. M., Vargas-Torres, A., Zeugolis, D. I., & Aguirre-Álvarez, G. (2019). Hydrolyzed Collagen-Sources and Applications. Molecules, 24(22), 4031. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24224031

Masoud, M. R. (2017). PRODUCTION OF HYDROLYZED BOVINE COLLAGEN WITH ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 95(3), 1205-1217. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejar.2017.150242

Shen, Y. N., Kim, S. H., Yoon, D. H., Lee, H. G., Kang, H. S., & Seo, K. S. (2012). Proteome Analysis of Bovine Longissimus dorsi Muscle Associated with the Marbling Score. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 25(8), 1083-1088. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2012.12127

Song, H., Zhang, S., Zhang, L., & Li, B. (2017). Effect of Orally Administered Collagen Peptides from Bovine Bone on Skin Aging in Chronologically Aged Mice. Nutrients, 9(11), 1209. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111209

Wu, J.-J., Weis, M. A., Kim, L. S., & Eyre, D. R. (2010). Type III Collagen, a Fibril Network Modifier in Articular Cartilage *. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285(24), 18537-18544. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.112904

Zając, M., Midura, A., Palka, K., Węsierska, E., & Krzysztoforski, K. (2011). Chemical composition, solubility of intramuscular collagen and texture of selected beef muscles. Zywnosc: Nauka, Technologia, Jakosc, 18, 103-116. https://doi.org/10.15193/zntj/2011/77/103-116

Jelonek, L. (2023). Collagen. Everything you need to know (B. Turczynski, ed.; 1st ed.). Natu.Care. https://books.google.com/books?vid=9788396887801

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