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 do it? If you’re reading this, we’re going to assume you have an idea of what collagen is so we won’t go into it too deeply. Instead, we’ll focus on how collagen is sourced and the process it goes through to get to your kitchen counter.
What is collagen?
in short, collagen is a protein it makes up about 30% of the protein in the human body. Its primary purpose is to provide structural support to the body’s connective tissues such as skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
Most of the collagen you can find in the market is harvested from an animal source. If you are looking for the best, check out our article covering this topic 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. Purchase of raw materials
As mentioned above, collagen is found in a variety of animal sources. The main ones are:
- Bovine collagen (of cows)
- Porcine collagen (of pigs)
- Marine collagen (of fish)
Although there are more to choose from, these three sources are rich in collagen. Collagen is derived from the skin, bones, tendons and cartilage of animals, parts that are usually thrown straight into the trash. Using these normally discarded parts helps keep the collagen industry sustainable without adding a huge burden to the ecosystem.
2. Preparation and Cleaning
After animal materials are collected, they undergo an intensive and thorough cleaning process to remove grease, dirt and unwanted tissue. The highest priority is to ensure that only high-quality collagen remains uncontaminated. If this step is not performed correctly, it can lead to contamination of the final product.
3. Extraction of collagen
Now that the material is cleaned and ready to go, this is where the real transformation happens. They must break down the structure of collagen in a useful form:
Hydrolysis
The most common method is enzymatic hydrolysis. The animal material is soaked in either a heated acid or base solution (usually an acid) to help break down the collagen bonds. Once this step is complete, enzymes are added to break down the collagen into smaller peptides.
So basically, the hydrolysis process helps break down the collagen into smaller chains of amino acids, making it more digestible and effective as a supplement.
4. Filtration and Purification
So, although there is a preparation and purification step, the hydrolyzed collagen needs to go through several rounds of filtration to get rid of any remaining impurities, non-collagenous proteins, or other unwanted materials. At this stage of the process, the collagen is still in liquid form, but it is highly purified and ready for the next stage.
5. Dehydration
In order to turn collagen from a liquid into a powder, it must go through a dehydration process. This is usually done in a process called spray drying, where liquid is sprayed into a heated chamber. Due to the high temperature, the liquid evaporates and fine collagen dust remains to be collected.
6. Testing for quality
Now that collagen is in powder form, it needs to be rechecked for quality and safety. Manufacturers generally use a third party to verify the purity, ensuring that the collagen is just that and meets industry standards. The test also confirms that the product contains the declared levels of collagen peptides, which are vital in ensuring the correct dosage.
7. Flavoring and Packaging
Now that the collagen protein powder is ready for sale, companies can decide to leave it unflavored, add a sweetener, or mix the collagen with other ingredients (protein, vitamins, etc.). Finally, the product is packaged in drums or single-use packages and sold to consumers.
3 Benefits of Collagen Protein
Now that you know how collagen protein is made, let’s look at some reasons why it should be part of your supplement regimen.
1. Skin Health
Studies have shown that collagen improves skin elasticity, reduces wrinkles, and promotes hydration.¹ It’s no wonder why it’s a big part of many antiaging creams.
2. Joint Support
It helps to strengthen joints, reduce pain and improve flexibility. One study found significant improvement in patients with osteoarthritis², similar results were found in rheumatoid arthritis and other studies in high-impact sports athletes.
3. Muscle Recovery
Studies have shown that collagen supports markers of muscle repair, making it a great post-workout recovery supplement.³ While it doesn’t help stimulate muscle protein synthesis as well as whey protein, it can help you get back to the gym faster.
Related: Collagen Benefits for Women
The result
From cow/pork/fish to collagen powder, now you know how sausage is made. While not overly complicated, there is still 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 went into getting that product on the shelves. If you’ve been thinking about adding collagen protein to your routine, you can now rest assured that a thorough manufacturing and testing process means you’re getting a high-quality product.
Check out how other supplements are made:
References
- Pu, Szu-Yu et al. “Effects of Oral Collagen on Antiaging Skin: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Nutrients, vol. 15, no. 9, January 1, 2023, p. 2080, www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/9/2080, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092080.
- Martínez-Puig, Daniel and others. “Collagen Supplementation for Joint Health: The Relationship Between Composition and Scientific Knowledge.” Nutrients, vol. 15, no. 6, January 1, 2023, p. 1332, www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/6/1332.
- Bischof, Kevin, and others. “Effects of specific collagen peptides and 12 weeks of concurrent training on biomechanical properties associated with recovery after exercise-induced muscle damage – a randomized controlled trial.” Frontiers in Nutrition, vol. 10, 16 November 2023, p. 1266056, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10687431/, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1266056.
