When the collagen market grew exponentially in the last decade, bovine collagen was the most widely used simply because it was the cheapest and most available. Marine collagen came later, with a premium price and a narrative of higher bioavailability that was not always well-founded. Today, research allows for a more accurate and less ideological comparison.
Origin and composition: fish skin vs. bovine hide
Marine collagen comes mainly from the skin and scales of fish—cod, tilapia, salmon, tuna—although there is also collagen from jellyfish and other marine organisms. It is almost exclusively type I collagen, the most relevant for the skin. Bovine collagen comes from the hide, bones, and tendons of cattle; it contains type I collagen (majority) and type III (also relevant for the skin) and type II (in bovine cartilage preparations, more relevant for joints).
Molecular weight and bioavailability: the differences that matter
The main argument in favor of marine collagen is its lower molecular weight. Hydrolyzed marine collagen generally has a lower average molecular weight than hydrolyzed bovine collagen, which in principle facilitates its intestinal absorption and its passage into systemic circulation. Di- and tripeptide peptides—the most bioactive fragments—are generated in a greater proportion in low molecular weight hydrolysates.
However, the comparison is not that simple: the hydrolysis process is as decisive as the origin. Bovine collagen with optimized hydrolysis can have a better bioactive peptide profile than marine collagen with deficient hydrolysis. What really matters is the quality of the hydrolysate and its characterization—not just the origin.
Types of collagen present in each source
Marine type I collagen has an amino acid composition with a high concentration of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline—the key amino acids for dermal collagen synthesis. It does not contain type II collagen (relevant for joints) or type III in the proportions of bovine. For specifically cutaneous objectives, marine type I is the most direct and best studied.
What comparative research says
Most of the most cited clinical studies on collagen and skin parameters—including those by Proksch et al. and Schunck et al.—have been carried out with hydrolyzed marine type I collagen. Studies with bovine collagen on skin parameters are less numerous and have more heterogeneous results. This does not prove that marine collagen is superior, but it does show that it has a more robust body of evidence in the specific context of nutricosmetics.
Sustainability and traceability: another quality criterion
Marine collagen has a potentially superior sustainability profile to bovine when it comes from fishery by-products (skin and scales that would otherwise be waste), although this depends on the practices of the specific supply chain. Rousselot's Peptan®—LEVIAL's collagen—comes from traceable sources with quality and safety certifications.
Why LEVIAL uses Peptan® as a reference
The choice of Peptan® is not a marketing argument: it is a formulation decision based on evidence. Peptan® is the hydrolyzed marine collagen with the highest number of published clinical studies on skin parameters, with reproducible results and solid methodologies. Using a generic "marine collagen" ingredient without traceability or its own studies would be less costly but much less honest from a scientific perspective.
