What Is Marine Collagen and Should You Try It?

When you are in the pink of health, the age is on your side, you have plenty of collagen in your body, skin, muscle, and bones. You look beautiful. As you grow old, you get saggy skin due to the loss of collagen.

Collagen is a protein in your body and the most abundant one. It is present in your bone, tendons, ligaments, organs, blood vessels, muscles, intestines, skin, tissues, and organs.

Your body produces ample collagen since birth, but you lose it as you age, from the mid-20s. Poor diet, lack of exercise, pollution, and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to the loss too.

When your body lags collagen, you can see the effect on wrinkles, weak muscles, joint pain, tight tendons and ligaments, and gut problems.

Marine Collagen

The best source of marine collagen is marine species. The largest source of them is fish. You get collagen primarily from the fish skin. It contributes to bringing up the collagen level in your body.

The source of collagen in cosmetics may get extracted from a pig or cow’s skin. The growing awareness of collagen is catching up. Its consumers are moving toward fish collagen for a few reasons.

If the natural source of marine collagen is unavailable in your area, take it as a supplement or use them as cosmetics with collagen in them.

Benefits of marine (fish) collagen 

Marine collagen works in the same principles as other collagen. It helps delay the signs of ageing, such as the formation of wrinkles, joint problems, and weakness.

Many prefer marine sources of collagen because they have issues with the other forms and sources of collagen, such as a pig or cow skin.

• Religious − Many want to avoid collagen sourced from pig or cow skin.

• Diseases − Protein in collagen drawn from a cow may contain mad cow disease.

If you have similar problems, you can try marine collagen only.

You can use supplements as the source of fish collagen if your area does not produce enough fish. They are expensive, or you do not have storage for marine sources.

Fish, where in abundance, is a more economical, environment-friendly source of collagen. Fishing industries produce a lot of raw materials from the leftover, such as fish skin produce enough collagen.

The science behind marine collagen

Research and studies on marine collagen help understand the effectiveness of fish collagen used as supplements.

Our stomach breaks down food and absorbs the nutrients into the bloodstream. But the efficacy of collagen supplements for our bodies is not yet understood.

Marine collagen creams with fish collagen have become popular due to unabated advertisements and promotions.

However, doctors believe alternative treatments, such as retinol, tretinoin, and vitamin C, may offer more benefits than the supplements popularised in the market.

The creams with these treatments can help your body produce collagen and help avoid inflammation that can affect you adversely.

If you are trying marine collage supplements or creams, recognised medical authorities like FDA (Food & Drug Administration, USA) have not approved many supplements sold in the open market or online.

Difference between collagen & marine collagen

Collagen is available in the market as powder, supplements, or capsules. Manufacturers procure it from bovine (cow), pig skin or bone sources. The source of marine collagen is primarily fish.

Many consider marine collagen healthier, safe, and better than collagen from animal products, such as red meat.

However, there is not much difference between the two in their chemical composition. Collagen molecules in both have similar structures regardless of their source.

Other benefits of marine collagen

Marine collagen offers some advantages.

It is a more sustainable protein source for its consumers than bovine collagen. Marine organisms and their raw materials and wastes are more sustainable and eco-friendly collagen sources.

Marine collagen helps them gain collagen and restrict meat from their diets.

Bovine collagen in red meat and other animal sources may have side effects on your health if consumed for a long. Fish collagen sources offer benefits to your health besides collagen building.

Some marine drug researchers suggest that people fear animal sources of collagen as it may cause diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as cow disease.

Side effects of marine collagen

Only when you have an allergy to fish, then avoid them. You can take them as protein supplements.

If you have SKD or CKD, severe or chronic kidney disease, consult a doctor before taking marine collagen supplements, as the doctor may limit the protein intake. 

Marine collagen effectiveness time

Wait for some time before you see the results of marine collagen. 

Do you expect to see the changes in a week or month? It may disappoint you.

Research suggests that if you consume daily, it may take up to 8 to 12 weeks to show some signs of your skin repair or changeover.

Conclusion

If you want to start with marine collagen, strictly follow the doses table mentioned on the label and never over-consume it. The bet is to consult a health physician before trying them. Not all supplements in your market are genuine, safe, and effective.

The supplements and doses vary depending on individual health. Doctors know it better. Look for brands that are reputed and trusted in the market. Use third-party verified brands, drawn collagen from wild-caught fish.

Check the expiry of the supplements, ensure they are contamination-free and include the ingredients as listed. We prefer the ones which are FDA approved.