Written by Tyler DiGiovanni | BSBM
Fact checked by Sam Coleman, Co-founder
FACT CHECKED
By now, you've seen it everywhere: collagen this, collagen that. But what is collagen in the first place? And more importantly, how do they make it? If you're reading this, we will assume you have an idea of what collagen is so we won't get too deep into that. Instead, we're going to focus on how collagen is sourced and the process it goes through to end up on your kitchen counter.
What is Collagen?
In short, collagen is a protein that makes up approximately 30% of the protein in the human body. Its main purpose is to provide structural support to the body's connective tissues, such as skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
Most collagen you'll find on the market has been harvested from an animal source. If you're on the look out for the best available, make sure to check out the our article that covers the best collagen supplements!
Let's take a closer look at how collagen protein powder makes it to the shelf.
How is collagen protein powder made?
1. Sourcing the Raw Material
As mentioned above, collagen is found in various animal sources. The main ones are:
- Bovine Collagen (from cows)
- Porcine Collagen (from pigs)
- Marine Collagen (from fish)
While there are more to choose from, these three sources are rich in collagen. The collagen is taken from their skin, bones, tendons, and cartilage, parts of the animals that would typically go straight into the trash. Using these usually discarded parts helps keep the collagen industry sustainable without adding a huge burden to the ecosystem.
2. Preparation and Cleaning
Once the animal materials are collected, they undergo an intense and thorough cleaning process to remove fats, impurities, and unwanted tissues. The highest priority is ensuring that only high-quality collagen remains contaminate-free. If this step isn't performed correctly, it can lead to a tainted final product.
3. Extraction of Collagen
Now that the material is cleaned and ready to go, here's where the real transformation occurs. They need to break down the collagen structure into a usable form:
Hydrolysis
The most common method is enzymatic hydrolysis. The animal material is soaked in either a heated acidic or base solution (usually acidic) to help break down the collagen bonds. Once that step is complete, enzymes are added to reduce the collagen into smaller peptides.
So, basically, the hydrolysis process helps break down collagen into smaller chains of amino acids, which makes it more digestible and effective as a supplement.
4. Filtration and Purification
So, even though there was the prep and cleaning step, the hydrolyzed collagen needs to go through several rounds of filtration to get rid of any remaining impurities, non-collagen proteins, or other unwanted materials. At this stage in the process, the collagen is still in a liquid form but highly purified and ready for the next step.
5. Dehydration
To convert collagen from liquid to powder, it must undergo a dehydration process. This is usually done in a process called spray drying, where the liquid is sprayed into a heated chamber. The liquid evaporates due to the high temperatures, and a fine powder of collagen is left to be collected.
6. Testing for Quality
Now that the collagen is in powder form, it must be rechecked for quality and safety reasons. Manufacturers generally use a third party to check for purity, ensuring that the collagen is only that and meets industry standards. The testing also verifies that the product contains the advertised levels of collagen peptides, which is vital in ensuring the proper dosage.
7. Flavoring and Packaging
Now that the collagen protein powder is ready to be sold, companies can decide whether to leave it unflavored, add flavoring, or mix the collagen with other ingredients (protein, vitamins, etc.). Finally, the product is packaged in tubs or single-serve packets and sold to consumers.
3 Benefits of Collagen Protein
Now that you know how collagen protein is made, let's look at some of the reasons it should be part of your supplement regimen.
1. Skin HealthStudies have shown that collagen improves skin elasticity, reduces wrinkles, and promotes hydration.¹ It's no wonder why it's such a big part of many anti-aging stacks.
2. Joint Support
It helps strengthen joints, reduce pain, and improve flexibility. One study found a noticeable improvement in patients with osteoarthritis², with similar results found in rheumatoid arthritis and athletes in high-impact sports in other studies.
3. Muscle Recovery
Studies have shown that collagen supports muscle repair markers, making it a great addition to post-workout recovery.³ It may not help stimulate muscle protein synthesis as well as whey protein, but it can help you get back in the gym quicker.
Related: Collagen Benefits For Women
Conclusion
From cow/pig/fish to collagen powder, now you know how the sausage is made. While not overly complicated, there still is an exact science to producing a quality product every time.
The next time you see a collagen powder supplement, you can see how much work goes into getting that product on the shelves. If you've been on the fence about adding collagen protein to your routine, you can now be assured that the thorough production and testing process means that you're getting a top-quality product.
Check out how other supplements are made:
References
- Pu, Szu-Yu, et al. "Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Nutrients, vol. 15, no. 9, 1 Jan. 2023, p. 2080, www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/9/2080, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092080.
- Martínez-Puig, Daniel, et al. “Collagen Supplementation for Joint Health: The Link between Composition and Scientific Knowledge.” Nutrients, vol. 15, no. 6, 1 Jan. 2023, p. 1332, www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/6/1332.
- Bischof, Kevin, et al. "Influence of Specific Collagen Peptides and 12-Week Concurrent Training on Recovery-Related Biomechanical Characteristics Following Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage—a Randomized Controlled Trial." Frontiers in Nutrition, vol. 10, 16 Nov. 2023, p. 1266056, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10687431/, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1266056.
Tyler DiGiovanni
Author