There isn’t just one type of collagen, but several. Collagen is a family of proteins that is very widespread in the human body (in fact, it’s the most abundant). At least 28 different types are known today.

Main types of collagen

Type I – The most abundant (≈ 90% of the body’s collagen)
• Found in: skin, bones, tendons, ligaments
• Role: strength and structural support

Type II
• Found mainly in cartilage
• Role: shock absorption in joints

Type III – Often associated with Type I
• Found in: skin, muscles, blood vessels
• Role: elasticity and structure

 

 

Type IV
• Found in membranes (e.g., around organs)
• Role: filtration (especially important in the kidneys)

Type V
• Found in hair, the placenta, and certain cells
• Role: organization of collagen fibers

However, to better choose the right type of collagen for each need, additional factors must be considered.

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Knowing the origin and size of collagen molecules ?

Knowing the origin and size of collagen molecules is essential because these two parameters directly determine its effectiveness, safety, and applications (nutrition, cosmetics, or medical use).

Not all collagens are equal: they can come from different sources and exist in very different molecular forms.

Importance of collagen origin

The origin influences several key aspects:

• Safety and tolerance
o Bovine, porcine, marine, or avian collagen: allergy risks and religious restrictions vary.
o Marine collagen is often better tolerated and widely used in cosmetics.

• Quality and composition
o Marine collagen is generally rich in type I (skin, bones).
o Bovine collagen may contain types I and III (skin, muscles).

• Traceability and contamination
o The origin determines sanitary controls (heavy metals, prions, antibiotics).

• Environmental and ethical impact
o The choice between animal sources, by-products, or recombinant collagen affects the ecological footprint.

2) Importance of molecule size

The size of collagen (or its peptides) is crucial for its effectiveness:

• Native collagen (very large size)
Intact triple helix structure
Very poorly digestible when taken orally
Mainly used in biomedical applications (implants, scaffolds)

• Hydrolyzed collagen (collagen peptides)
Broken down into small amino acid chains
Better intestinal absorption
Most commonly used in dietary supplements

• Molecular weight
The lower it is, the higher the bioavailability generally is
Small peptides may better stimulate fibroblasts (skin, cartilage)

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Why are these two criteria essential together in collagen?

• A good source without proper molecular size → poorly absorbable product
• A small molecular size without controlled sourcing → risk of contaminants or variable effectiveness
• Together, they determine:
o clinical effectiveness (skin, joints)
o the quality of cosmetic results
o long-term safety

REMINDER: vegan plant-based collagen does not exist! An alternative for vegetarian or vegan individuals is to use biomimetic alternatives. These are combinations of amino acids derived from the plant kingdom, whose particularity is to mimic animal structures. Ideally, they are combined with vitamin C, which has an EFSA-approved health claim: “contributes to normal collagen formation, which ensures normal cartilage function.”

Conclusion

Ready to innovate with collagens? Quantitative and qualitative analysis can help you and enable you to add value to your innovations and/or developments. The origin of collagen and its traceability are important factors for an active ingredient of natural origin or biomimetic, which has not finished winning over interest.

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