Collagen is the most abundant type of protein in the body.
To date, there are 28 different types of collagen. The main types are type 1, type 2, and type 3. Each type has a certain function and benefit for the body.
Understanding the Different Collagen Types
The most abundant types of collagen in our body are collagen types 1, 2 & 3. These 3 types make up 80% of all the collagen in our body. And each type has a certain function and benefit that it provides.
Type 1 Collagen
Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin elasticity and hydration. It’s also good for strengthening your nails and helping you grow stronger, thicker hair. Additionally it helps support your muscle tissue & bones.
Sources of Collagen: Bovine hide and Fish skin collagen
Type 2 Collagen
Makes up a majority of the protein molecules in your cartilage, the connective tissue that protects your bones at the joints, making it a potent way to support joint health. Type 2 collagen also supports eye health.
Sources of Collagen: Chicken cartilage collagen
Type 3 Collagen
Is found in large quantities in your intestines, muscle tissue, blood vessels, and the uterus. It’s most often used with type I collagen for gut healing and to improve skin elasticity, hydration, hair & nail support!
Sources of Collagen: Bovine hide collagen
An easy way to understand the overall functions and benefits of the different collagen types is to think of collagen like a strong multi-layered fibrous piece of glue, or kind of like a twizzlers stick! Glue connects & holds objects together and prevents friction from happening. Collagen essentially operates in the same way. Collagen fibers are found in our connective tissue, ligaments, tendons, in our joints, hair, skin and nails, in the lining of our organs, and other parts of the body. Collagen is in the connective tissue that binds muscle to bone and it makes up the majority of proteins in the cartilage between our joints. Collagen fibers strengthen our hair, skin and nails as well as our tendons and ligaments. In short, collagen is the glue that holds our body together!
What is Collagen Composed of?
Remember what collagen is? It’s a protein! And what is a protein? A protein is composed of amino acids. And amino acids are the building blocks of life! The collagen protein is composed of three key amino acids; glycine, proline and hydroxyproline. These three amino acids are wrapped around each other in a triple helix (remember, twizzlers stick).
Since all the different types of collagen are made up of these three key amino acids and are woven together in a triple helix, how is collagen type 1 different from collagen type 2? The difference between the collagen types is how other molecules & amino acid chains, called poly peptides, are connected to these three key amino acids -- glycine, proline and hydroxyproline. These differences lead to different functions & benefits.
What is a hydrolyzed collagen protein, a collagen peptide, and how are they beneficial for us?
If you’re on this site, I’m sure you’ve read or heard of the terms collagen peptide, hydrolyzed collagen or hydrolyzed protein. What do these terms mean? Here, you can get an easy-to-understand explanation!
Hydrolyzed, Collagen Peptide, and Hydrolysis
Hydrolyzed comes from the process of hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is a process of using water, heat and a catalyst in order to breakdown a structure that is bonded together (hydro = water, lysis = untie). In the case of hydrolyzed collagen proteins, the protein bonds or polypeptides are bonded together in their natural state in our body. Through hydrolysis, these protein bonds are broken down and no longer connected together. The end result is called a ‘hydrolyzed collagen protein’.
By definition, a peptide is a compound consisting of two or more amino acids linked in a chain. Polypeptides are a large number of amino acid chains linked together. When these peptides or polypeptides are hydrolyzed, their chains are no longer linked together & the result is an individual protein chain.
So when you go to the store or when you’re shopping online and you see hydrolyzed collagen, that means these collagen proteins were once collagen polypeptide chains & now are just Collagen Peptides!
What’s the Point of Hydrolysis or why do we consume hydrolyzed collagen?
The answer is quite easy to understand actually. Hydrolyzed collagen proteins, as mentioned above are broken down, making them smaller, individual protein chains. This allows our digestive system (small intestines) to easily absorb them. Also, people who have food sensitivities absorb these hydrolyzed collagen proteins better as well. Once they are absorbed by our digestive system, their benefits can then be utilized where needed in the body!
References:
1 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/type-i-collagen
2 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/type-ii-collagen#:~:text=of%20Bone%2C%201993-,II%20COLLAGEN%20TYPE%20II,Prockop%20and%20Kivirikko%2C%201984
3 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/collagen-type-3#:~:text=Type%20III%20collagen%20constitutes%20approximately,than%2020%25%20of%20adult%20skin.&text=It%20is%20also%20present%20in,as%20blood%20vessels%20and%20viscera
4 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26934933/