Marine Collagen Peptides: The Science behind the Hype

Collagen.

You’ve heard it, you’ve seen it, your mum’s neighbour Nancy is hooked on it.

But what exactly is this magical beauty panacea that everyone can’t get enough of?

Well, the answer lies in the science.

  

What is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and forms the scaffolding of our body, providing structural support in connective tissues such as skin, hair, nails, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and bones; it’s the stuff that holds us together.

Collagen is naturally produced by our bodies, however, this process begins to decline at a rate of about 2% each year, starting from our mid to late twenties. As collagen production declines with age, our skin loses its structural integrity, leading to sagging and the formation of lines and wrinkles. In addition to the inevitable slow down, our collagen framework is further weakened by sun exposure, poor diet, environmental pollution and toxins, such as cigarette smoke.

Collagen supplementation provides high amounts of specific amino acids and peptides involved in the formation of collagen to promote healthy skin, hair and nails from within. Clinical studies have shown that oral collagen supplementation can improve skin hydration, wrinkling, texture and elasticity. It is thought that when absorbed, hydrolysed collagen peptides stimulate fibroblasts, our little builder cells to increase construction of our skin scaffolding, creating a denser, stronger framework. Another theory is that these tiny hydrolysed collagen peptides could alter the way our immune system interacts with our collagen framework, preventing autoimmune damage. Ongoing research is underway to help us truly understand the exact molecular mechanisms through which collagen works its wonders.

 

 

 

Not all collagen products are made equal

You may have noticed the phrase ‘hydrolysed collagen peptides’ mentioned earlier. This refers to the process of breaking down collagen into small peptide fragments, which is critical for optimal absorption into our bodies. We refer to how well a nutrient is absorbed by the body as bioavailability.

Fish derived collagen has been shown to be absorbed 1.5 times more efficiently compared to bovine collagen, meaning it has superior bioavailability. 

Our marine collagen comes in the form of hydrolysed collagen peptides, which have a low molecular weight of 3kDa (Daltons are a unit of molecular mass), making it easier to absorb and thus more effective.

 

 

 

The Epitome of Collagen

Epitome Collagen uses Nordic Wild Cod Collagen Peptides exclusively produced from deep-sea cod skin (Gadus morhua), harvested from the crystal clear waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. This provides the purest source of high quality and 100% natural collagen peptides available on the market.

5000mg of these high quality collagen peptides is included in every serve, much higher than most other collagen products on the market. We use 100% pure natural fish collagen peptides from wild cod skin, which is more expensive than fish scales, the cheaper option other companies use that requires harsh chemical processing. These fish scales are often extracted from farmed fish, which are exposed to high doses of antibiotics due to the stagnant water in which they live.

Our collagen is sourced ethically and sustainably as it is made from fish skin, a discarded byproduct that would otherwise go to waste. Every batch is fully traceable down to the raw material, fishing vessels and catch details to ensure no illegal fishing is involved.

 

 

 

And that’s just the collagen component of our product.

Head on over to our Science page to learn more about the other key components that make Epitome Collagen the most comprehensive skin health supplement.

We don’t promise miracles. Science does.