From bovine to marine – we test three collagen supplements and reveal where they come from

I HAVE a bugbear with collagens that don’t state where they are from. Some say they’re packaged in Europe, which they are, but then I discover they are actually sourced in countries like India or Brazil. We put three collagen to the test and show where they come from The lack of transparency annoys me. I’ve put three to the test and shown where they come from. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! Most adults should look at having about 5-10g of hydrolysed collagen peptides a day. BOVINE Lucy Bee is broken down into smaller peptides and is easier to absorb LUCY BEE started out selling coconut oil then expanded into wellness supplements. I love her Pure Bovine Hydrolysed Collagen, which clearly states it is from French cows. As we age, our natural collagen production starts to decline. Bovine – or Type I and Type III – is said to help most with skin, joints, tendons and muscle support. Essentially, it increases protein intake. Most read in Health This provides 4.5g collagen per 5g serving and, because it is broken down into smaller peptides, it is easier to absorb. It’s £25.46 for 200g, lucybee.com MARINE Ancient+Brave are very transparent about where this comes from Credit: Supplied JUST like Lucy Bee, Ancient+Brave are very transparent about where this comes from – free-swimming fish in the icy waters of Alaska and the North Atlantic from France and Norway. The fish are Marine Stewardship Council certified, meaning they come from fisheries independently assessed for sustainable fishing practices. Each serving contains 100 per cent collagen peptides so if you take a heaped teaspoon, you’re getting 5g of collagen. Consistency matters more than exact precision – your body only uses what it needs. This had no fishy taste and dissolved quickly into my coffee. I also felt this helped my parched skin feel less dry. From £27.20 for a refillable 200g jar, ancientandbrave.earth. MIXED Collagevita Multi Collagen is 100 per cent collagen, and I will definitely buy this again Credit: Supplied COLLAGEVITA Multi Collagen is not as transparent about where it comes from, but I loved the results so did some digging. It contains hydrolysed collagen peptides types I, II, III, V & X – so the full range of collagen. This means it comes from bovine, marine, chicken cartilage and eggshell membranes. It has been devised by Barbara Kubicka, a doctor who now specialises in aesthetics. It dissolved easily in my coffee and, after a month, my nails grew faster than ever. The bovine and chicken elements are sourced from Slovenia, the marine collagen from Germany. It’s 100 per cent collagen, and I will definitely buy again. It’s £35 for 300g, clinicbe.com/product/collagevita-multi-collagen Comment now