About Collagen Types
Why Type I and Type III Matter - and Where They Come From
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, forming the structural framework of your skin, joints, bones and connective tissue.
But not all collagen is the same - and importantly, not all sources of collagen deliver the same types.
When it comes to meaningful supplementation, two types stand out: Type I and Type III collagen. And understanding where they come from is key to understanding how to get the most from them.
Type I Collagen - Structure, Strength and Skin
Type I collagen makes up the vast majority of the collagen in your body. It’s found in:
- Skin
- Tendons
- Bones
- Ligaments
This is your structural backbone - responsible for strength, density and firmness.
Where do you get Type I collagen from?
Type I collagen is abundant in both marine and bovine sources:
- Marine collagen (typically from fish skin) is almost exclusively Type I
- Bovine collagen (from cow hide) also contains high levels of Type I
Marine vs Bovine for Type I
Marine collagen is often valued for:
- Smaller peptide size (which may support faster absorption)
- A clean, single-type collagen focus (Type I)
Bovine collagen, on the other hand, offers:
- A broader amino acid profile
- A more natural pairing with other collagen types (more on that below)
Both have their place - but they serve slightly different roles.
Type III Collagen - Flexibility and Support
Type III collagen works alongside Type I and is found in:
- Skin
- Blood vessels
- Internal organs
If Type I provides strength, Type III brings elasticity and resilience.
It’s particularly important for:
- Skin suppleness
- Vascular structure
- Supporting softer connective tissues
Where does Type III collagen come from?
This is where things become more selective.
- Bovine collagen is one of the best natural sources of Type III
- Marine collagen contains little to no Type III
That means if you’re relying purely on marine collagen, you’re largely missing half of the equation.
Source Matters
It’s easy to assume collagen is interchangeable — but the source directly impacts what you’re actually getting.
- Marine collagen = primarily Type I only
- Bovine collagen = Type I + Type III together
And in the body, these two types are designed to work side by side.
This combination supports:
- Strength (Type I)
- Flexibility (Type III)
- More complete connective tissue support overall
How Collagen is Made
Collagen supplements aren’t just ground-up raw material.
They’re typically processed into hydrolysed collagen peptides, which means the protein is broken down into smaller chains of amino acids.
This makes it:
- Easier to digest
- Easier to absorb
- More usable by the body
Rather than acting like a direct replacement, these peptides provide the building blocks your body uses to support its own collagen production.
Marine vs Bovine - Or Both?
Both marine and bovine collagen bring something valuable:
- Marine collagen: highly concentrated Type I, often lighter and fast-absorbing
- Bovine collagen: broader profile, naturally delivering both Type I and Type III
The question isn’t which is “better” — it’s whether relying on just one source gives you the full picture.
A More Complete Approach
In the body, collagen doesn’t exist in isolation. Type I and Type III are naturally found together, working in tandem to support both structure and flexibility.
That’s why a multi-source approach makes sense.
By combining marine and bovine collagen, you’re not just getting more collagen — you’re getting a more complete spectrum of the types your body actually uses.
Bringing It Together
If your goal is to support skin, joints and connective tissue properly, it’s worth looking beyond single-source collagen.
A formulation that combines:
- Marine collagen (Type I focus)
- Bovine collagen (Type I + Type III)
offers a more rounded, real-world reflection of how collagen functions in the body.
Collagen isn’t just about quantity - it’s about type, source and balance.
And when you bring those together properly, you move from simply “taking collagen”… to actually supporting the structures that rely on it every day.
Multi-Collagen






