Plant-based collagen vs. Animal collagen: What’s the difference?

29 September 2022

If you care about your skin, joints, and overall vitality, chances are you’ve come across collagen in some form. Maybe it’s in your skincare routine, a supplement you take daily, or blended into your morning smoothie. But here's something most people don’t realise: the majority of collagen on the market is animal-based.

Marine or bovine sources dominate the collagen supplement industry, and some brands would have you believe this is the only way to support your collagen levels. Spoiler: it’s not. In fact, there are smarter, more sustainable options out there. Let’s dive into the truths, half-truths, and myths about collagen.

FACT: Collagen is a key structural protein.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It provides structure and strength to skin, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and even the gut lining. It helps maintain skin elasticity, prevent premature ageing, and support tissue repair and joint mobility. It's also key for strong hair and nails, and becomes even more important for women as they age due to its role in maintaining bone density.

FACT: Our Bodies Produce Less Collagen as We Age

Collagen production begins to decline in our mid-20s at a rate of around 1% per year.

Add to that lifestyle and environmental factors like UV exposure, air pollution, and smoking, and the decline becomes more significant. These factors generate free radicals that damage collagen-forming cells. Supporting collagen synthesis through diet and supplementation becomes essential to maintaining healthy levels.

Reference: Knuutinen et al., 2002

MYTH: Animal Collagen Is the Most Effective Option

While marine and bovine collagen supplements contain collagen peptides, your body still needs to break them down into individual amino acids before they can be used. Those amino acids aren’t guaranteed to rebuild into collagen either—they’ll be used wherever your body sees fit.

And here’s the kicker: collagen from cows and fish isn’t identical to human collagen. They contain similar amino acids, yes, but they’re arranged differently. So, consuming animal collagen isn’t like plugging in missing collagen pieces. It’s more like supplying raw materials that may or may not end up where you want them.

Reference: Choi et al., 2019

MYTH: Animal Collagen Is Naturally Cleaner

Despite the natural-sounding label, animal collagen isn’t as pure as it seems. The parts used to make it (think skin, hooves, bones, and connective tissue) can contain traces of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and heavy metals—especially if they come from intensively farmed animals or poorly regulated sources.

In fact, third-party testing has revealed contaminants in several mainstream collagen brands.

References: Clean Label Project; Organic Consumers Association

MYTH: Animal Collagen Is Environmentally Sustainable

While collagen production often uses byproducts of the meat and fishing industries, that doesn’t mean it’s environmentally friendly. Factory farming and industrial fishing are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and ocean degradation. The collagen production process itself—which involves boiling tissues at high temperatures, drying, and enzymatic treatment—also uses considerable energy.

Reference: León-López et al., 2019

FACT: You Can Build Collagen Without Eating It

Plant-based collagen builders don’t contain collagen. Instead, they provide your body with everything it needs to build it. These include the full spectrum of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals like vitamin C, silica, and zinc, which are essential for the synthesis and maintenance of collagen.

By supplying these building blocks, collagen builders help trigger your body’s natural collagen production and protect it from oxidative stress and degradation. This approach supports not just your skin, but also your joints, ligaments, and gut.

Reference: Wu, Cronin & Crane, 2022; DePhillipo et al., 2018

FACT: Vivo Life’s plant-based collagen builder contains everything you need to build top quality collagen!

Not all collagen builders are created equal. Ours is formulated with precision to support your body’s collagen production at every level. It includes: