Marine Collagen vs Bovine Collagen: Source, Type and Serve
More on: Collagen Guides
TL;DR: Marine collagen vs bovine collagen is a difference in composition, not quality: marine collagen comes from fish and is mostly Type I, while bovine collagen comes from cattle hide and is Type I and Type III. The popular claim that marine absorbs better is really about peptide size, which the manufacturer's hydrolysis decides, not the animal. Choose on what you eat, whether you want a blend or a single ingredient, and how much protein you want per serve.
Marine collagen vs bovine collagen is nearly always answered with an absorption statistic.
That statistic is the least reliable part of the comparison.
The real differences are simpler and easier to check. Propel Health sells one of each, so both are laid out below.
Shop Propel Health Hydrolysed Collagen Peptides
Where each one comes from
Marine collagen is extracted from fish, usually the skin and scales. It is predominantly Type I collagen.
Bovine collagen is extracted from cattle hide. It contains Type I and Type III collagen.
Both are hydrolysed, meaning the long protein chains are broken into short peptides so the powder dissolves. Unhydrolysed collagen is gelatin, which sets when it cools.
The collagen types, plainly
- Type I is the most abundant in the body, the main structural collagen in skin, tendon, bone and ligament.
- Type III occurs alongside Type I.
- Type II is the collagen of cartilage. It usually comes from chicken, not fish or cattle, and is a different product.
Marine gives Type I on its own. Bovine gives Type I with Type III alongside it.
The absorption claim, examined
The usual argument: marine peptides are smaller, smaller peptides cross the gut wall more easily, so marine absorbs better.
The conclusion does not follow as cleanly as it is presented.
Peptide size in a finished powder is set by how far the manufacturer hydrolysed it. A heavily hydrolysed bovine collagen and a lightly hydrolysed marine collagen land the other way round. The animal sets the collagen type. The process sets the peptide size.
So peptide size is a specification to ask a manufacturer about, not something to infer from the word "marine". Most brands, Propel Health included, do not publish it.
Marine collagen vs bovine collagen side by side
| Collagen Beauty Boost (marine) | Hydrolysed Collagen Peptides (bovine) | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Fish | Cattle hide |
| Collagen type | Type I | Type I and Type III |
| Serve size | 7 g, 2 rounded teaspoons | 10 g, 1 heaped tablespoon |
| Protein per serve | 4.8 g | 9.0 g |
| Serves per pack | 30 per 210 g | 30 per 300 g |
| What else is in it | 70% marine collagen peptides, plus vitamin C 72 mg, zinc 5.1 mg, silica from bamboo extract, hyaluronic acid | Nothing. Bovine collagen peptides only |
| Flavour | Natural flavour with beetroot, rosella and monk fruit | Unflavoured |
| Allergen | Contains fish | None declared |
| Origin | Manufactured in Australia from imported ingredients | Product of Brazil, packed in Australia |
The comparison that actually decides it
Source is not the biggest difference between these two products. Format is.
Collagen Beauty Boost is a formulated blend. It is 70% marine collagen peptides with vitamin C, zinc, silica and hyaluronic acid, and it is flavoured. Smaller serve, less protein, more in it.
Hydrolysed Collagen Peptides is one ingredient. Bovine collagen peptides, nothing added, 9.0 g of protein in a 10 g serve. It dissolves into hot or cold drinks without changing the taste.
For most people the real question is not fish against cattle. It is a blend or the raw material.
Collagen itself has no pre-approved health claim in Australia, so this article makes none.
Who should choose which
Marine collagen suits people who do not eat beef, pescatarians, and anyone who wants the flavoured blend with vitamin C and zinc in it.
Shop Propel Health Collagen Beauty Boost, 210 g
Bovine collagen suits anyone avoiding fish, wanting the most protein per serve, or wanting a single unflavoured ingredient that disappears into coffee.
Shop Propel Health Hydrolysed Collagen Peptides, 300 g
Neither suits a vegan diet. Collagen is an animal protein. Products marketed as vegan collagen are blends of vitamins, amino acids and plant extracts, which is a different proposition.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, marine or bovine collagen?
Neither is better as a category. Marine is Type I, bovine is Type I and III. Choose on diet, format and protein per serve.
Is it better to take both?
There is no need for both. They are the same protein from different animals. Alternating is harmless but not an upgrade.
Who should not take bovine collagen?
Anyone avoiding beef for dietary, religious or ethical reasons. It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
Who should not take marine collagen?
Anyone with a fish allergy. Collagen Beauty Boost declares fish as an allergen.
Does marine collagen taste of fish?
A well processed marine collagen should not. Collagen Beauty Boost is flavoured.
What is the best form of collagen to take?
Hydrolysed, which both of these are. Hydrolysed collagen dissolves. Unhydrolysed collagen is gelatin, which sets.
How much protein is in a collagen serve?
9.0 g in a 10 g serve of Hydrolysed Collagen Peptides, and 4.8 g in a 7 g serve of Collagen Beauty Boost. Neither is a complete protein, explained in whey protein vs collagen protein.
About the author
Grant Jenkins is co-founder of Propel Health Australia, an ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologist and a high-performance athletic development coach with almost 30 years of experience.
Propel Health Australia is an Australian, family-owned company based in Brisbane, Queensland, and supplies its range under an Australian food licence.
References
Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, Schedule 4, Nutrition, health and related claims.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, Standard 1.2.3, allergen declarations.
Propel Health Australia. Product information, Collagen Beauty Boost 210 g and Hydrolysed Collagen Peptides 300 g.
Disclaimer
This article is general information and is not medical advice. Propel Health Australia products are foods, not therapeutic goods, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak with a doctor, pharmacist or qualified health professional about individual needs. No health claim is made for collagen in this article.
