Collagen Peptides – Source, Properties and Benefits

Collagen peptides, oral ingested and topical administered, have positive effects on human health and beauty. These effects of supplemented collagen peptides are based on their impact on human collagen, naturally found as one of the most abundant proteins in the body. Human collagen is vital for the elasticity, flexibility and strength in skin, tendons and ligaments, but also in the cornea, cartilage, bones, blood vessels, gut and more. Today, collagen peptides are increasingly used as dietary supplement or active ingredient in nutraceuticals, functional foods and cosmetics. Collagen peptides are the building blocks of the versatile high protein ingredient gelatin. Gelatin is a natural animal derived food ingredient and traditionally used in human nutrition for hundreds of years. Collagen peptides, also called hydrolysed gelatin or collagen hydrolysate, are soluble in water and show better bioavailability in the human body than gelatin. The diversity of possible applications and innovations increased the interest in a wider variation of collagen peptides with diverse properties. Fish derived collagen peptides received more attention in the recent past due to their favourable characteristics and less consumer reservations compared to mammal-derived ingredients.