Collagen peptides are broken down pieces of collagen that can / are taken orally e.g. through tablets, pills or liquid and absorbed directly through the gut.
Another term for them is also hydrolysed collagen.
The molecular structure of collagen itself is too big for your body to be able to break it down and then be absorbed.
Whilst collagen peptides are just collagen, the difference is that they have been broken into smaller molecules containing the 3 key amino acids proline, glycine and hydroxyproline, making it much more efficient.
Take the scenario where you consume collagen naturally through your food (not the peptide version). Your body has to take the natural collagen protein, break it down into the amino acids it needs, and then use them to start creating collagen – which is an inefficiency.
On top of this, as non-hydrolysed collagen has bigger molecules, you run the risk of wasting collagen as it destroyed in the gut due to the body not being able to absorb it.
Collagen peptides however, short cut this process by directly providing the body the amino acids it needs to start collagen synthesis in a way that is much more easier for the gut to absorbe – another benefit is that they are available in different forms and are easily consumable.
It is important to remember here that your body also needs nutrients and vitamins as part of the collagen synthesis process, especially vitamin C.
Are collagen peptides safe?
Other than the extraction and hydrolysing process where collagen is extracted from the source e.g. bovine, marine, collagen peptides are no different to natural forms of collagen.
Nothing more or else is added to the mixture, and you will most likely find collagen peptides, for example, odorless and tasteless.
That being said, it is well documented that collagen peptides do not pose any harm or risk to the body including having no known side effects. On the other hand, there is research to say that amino acid levels do increase after intake, which shows that the body does absorb the peptides.
The only area that really requires more research is the area of the benefits of collagen.
There are numerous studies that show you can safely take 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen peptides per day. As always make sure to make sure to measure and be clear on how you’re getting per tablet, pill or scoop.
