Collagen can also support the skin's health and appearance from the outside – typically in a collagen serum or cream. Collagen is also found naturally in dogs, providing structure, strength and cushioning around the joints. As a result, collagen plays a similar role in helping to ensure they can continue to enjoy happy and active lives. The most effective formulations use ingredients like plant oestrogens and vitamin C to help boost skin's collagen production, rather than containing collagen itself, whose particles are too large to reach the deeper levels of skin. If you want to try marine collagen, follow the instructions on the label for the dosage. Also, it’s always best to talk to your doctor first before taking any supplement to make sure that it’s safe for your individual health concerns. Look for trusted brands that use wild-caught fish and are third-party verified, which ensures that what you’re taking is free from contaminants and contains the ingredients that are listed. No matter the source, all types of collagen target the effects of ageing. As a general rule, Logan suggests opting for a well-researched hydrolysed, marine-sourced, Type 1 collagen. “Type 1 collagen provides the main support for the skin, helping to provide structure,” she says. “ As it breaks down, we start to lose that structure, which can lead to the signs of ageing. Research has indicated that keeping collagen levels high in the body, by using absorbable collagen peptides, can help to slow the down the development of lines and wrinkles.” How do I choose a collagen supplement?

RELATED: 20 Ways to Preserve — and Boost — the Collagen in Your Face What Other Benefits Does Marine Collagen Have? This means that when our collagen levels are high (during our younger years), skin stays strong, smooth, and firm. As we get older and our collagen levels fall, we begin to see signs of ageing, like fine lines and loss of firmness and elasticity. Healthspan's Flexi-Joints Treats combine collagen with other joint health nutrients, including glucosamine, chondroitin, and turmeric. As well as providing optimum joint health protection, these chewable bites are deliciously tasty and can help you avoid having to give your pet lots of tablets every day.

Revolution Wellness Vegan Collagen Gummies

So, this explains why the market is saturated with products promising to support our decreasing collagen levels. But, with so many brands serving up collagen supplements, how can we really tell which ones offer tangible benefits? Read more: Shop The Best Beauty Advent Calendars 2023 Has To Offer Which collagen is best type 1, 2 or 3? Evennett suggests that maintaining adequate collagen levels could play a preventative role, highlighting that "low levels of collagen could lead to looser tendons, putting you at a greater risk of a joint injury."

Marine collagen does have some other known advantages, however. Notably, it is a far more sustainable source of protein than other kinds. A paper published in April 2020 in Marine Drugs notes, “Marine organisms and their wastes can be a sustainable, eco-friendly source of collagen.”

The supplement also contains added copper, manganese and vitamin C to support collagen formation, and type II collagen for joints (see below). Whether marine collagen is actually any healthier is still a source of debate, however. At a chemical level, there’s little difference between the two. “Collagen molecules themselves are structurally similar, regardless of the source they are derived from,” says Zeichner.

RELATED: What Are Organ Complex Supplements, and Will They Make You Healthier? Does Marine Collagen Have Any Side Effects? The paper also points out that marine collagen may appeal to people who restrict meat from their diets for religious, cultural, or moral reasons. Several major religions restrict consumption of pork and beef, for instance, and people who follow vegetarian diets may not wish to consume animal products but are okay with eating fish. Another option is to consume enough foods, such as fish, poultry, legumes and soy, which contain the amino acids to make collagen (namely lycine, proline, and hydroxyproline). Collagen supplements for women Meanwhile, Logan recommends opting for type 1. “Type 1 collagen makes up 90 per cent of the collagen in the body, so it is certainly the one we should try and focus on the most – especially when looking to support the skin. Type 1 collagen is concentrated around the skin, bones, tendons and ligaments, helping to provide structure and strength.” Which collagen is best for anti-ageing? In short, it keeps your skin looking young. “In the skin, collagen bonds with elastin and acts as an underlying structure,” explains Dr Nyla Raja. “It’s part of the extracellular matrix that determines the physical properties of body tissues. In other words, how we see the skin.”The best-selling Replenish Collagen Boosting Serum is specially formulated to support skin during and after the menopause, when falling oestrogen levels lead to a sharp decline in collagen levels. Plant oestrogens and vitamin C boost the skin's collagen, providing a noticeable improvement in hydration, plumpness, and texture.

Lesley adds: “When you’re buying a collagen supplement, look for collagen hydrolysate, hydrolysed collagen, or collagen peptides at a daily dose of between 2.5g and 15g. This is the amount that appears to be safe and effective.” I’m vegan, can I still take a collagen supplement? When you’re a youngster, your body synthesises all the collagen it needs from the amino acids in food like fish, meat, and protein-rich plant sources such as seeds. But your levels start to drop from the age of 25. “By the time you hit 45, your natural collagen levels have fallen by as much as 30%,” says dermatologist Dr Nyla Raja. “By 60, most women have lost 80% of their collagen levels. So it’s important that we seek it from external sources, such as collagen supplements.” As a result, maintaining healthy collagen levels can benefit our health and wellbeing from top to toe – although it should be noted that different forms of collagen are used by the body in different places. Type I collagen Elite Collagen Repair provides 20,000mg hydrolysed bioactive peptides per serving, including type I collagen to nourish the skin from within, plus vitamin C to contribute to normal collagen formation. Its type 3 collagen can also help tendons and ligaments (see below.)A review published in March 2020 in Nutrients found that collagen peptides act as antioxidants to quelch damaging free radicals and inflammation (both of which are associated with chronic diseases and aging) in skin cells. In another small study, 50 women ages 45 to 60 took 10 grams (g) of a marine collagen powder supplement for 12 weeks and had a 35 percent reduction in wrinkles compared with a group who took a placebo powder, as was reported in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in March 2021. Measures of skin elasticity, hydration, and firmness also improved. Overall, consuming a varied diet filled with whole foods is the best way to take in a range of nutrients that will support healthy skin and joints. “It’s unclear whether collagen supplements are superior to eating a well-balanced diet with adequate protein, says Zeichner. Marine Collagen contains 500mg of hydrolysed type I marine collagen to help support the health of skin and connective tissues, together with vitamin C to further support collagen production. At just 12p per tablet, this is Healthspan's best-value collagen supplement.