And rightly so!
Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the body. It is the main component of our tendons, ligaments, muscles… and SKIN!
We naturally produce our own collagen, however the rate that we make our own collagen starts to decline at around the age of 20 (yes, that young!). It then continues to decline at a rate of around 1% every year, and even more so for women when they reach menopause.
One of the easiest and most convenient ways to ‘top up’ our collagen levels is to take a collagen supplement, but with so many on the market today offering Type I, Type II, and even Type III collagen, which one is the right one for you and what you are trying to target?
Let’s look at the different types of collagens, where the collagen in these supplements comes from and what they are effective for…
Type I Collagen
Type I collagen is primarily sourced from fish and is a by-product of the fishing industry. This means that fish are NOT farmed specifically for their collagen! Each DermaShotz sachet contains 11,000mg of the world’s leading, ethically sourced, Hydrolysed Marine Collagen. Type I collagen is also present (in smaller quantities) in some types of Porcine (pig) Collagen and Bovine (cattle) Collagen.
However, Marine Collagen is absorbed up to 1.5 times more efficiently into the body, meaning it has superior bioavailability over bovine or porcine collagen. Because of its low molecular weight, it is absorbed far more easily and enters the bloodstream more rapidly.
Type I collagen makes up around 75-90% of the collagen found in your skin, hair, nails, organs, bone and ligaments. For skin, hair and nails, Type I collagen is widely considered to be the optimum type of collagen supplement to take, and there is now an abundance of research material available showing that when Type I collagen levels in the body are increased via oral supplement, there are visible improvements in the appearance of the skin, when taken over an extended period of time.
Type II Collagen
Supplements containing Type II collagen contain collagen sourced from the cartilage of chicken and cattle. Type II collagen makes up the fluids and function of the cartilage and joints. The primary purpose for choosing a supplement containing Type II collagen is for the health of the joints and to treat conditions such as Arthritis. Type II collagen constitutes approximately 10% of the total collagen found in the body, and around 50% of the protein found in our cartilage.
Type III Collagen
Type III collagen is found with Type I collagen in Porcine Collagen and Bovine Collagen. Type III collagen is the second most abundant collagen found in the body’s tissue most commonly in the skin, lungs, intestinal walls, and blood vessels. It is also found in bone, cartilage, the teeth, tendons and other connective tissues.
The use of collagen supplements has been well studied, and continues to be studied as the rise in popularity of products containing collagen grows. There are several different types of collagens to choose from! Make sure that the collagen you choose is the right one for you!