Written by Dr. Vanessa Craig

The rising trend of vegan collagen alternatives has left many wondering: Does vegan collagen actually exist, and are these plant-based options as effective as the real deal?
The clear and scientific answer is no. There is no such thing as vegan collagen. Collagen is found naturally in animals, not plants—it really is as simple as that! Collagen is derived from the skin, tendons, bones, and connective tissue of animals. There are NO natural vegan sources of collagen.

Scientists are working on producing vegan ‘collagen’ by using bacteria and yeast that have been genetically engineered to produce collagen-like proteins. It is still a relatively new technology, and there may be regulatory barriers to producing and marketing it as a food or dietary supplement.
In the meantime, misleading marketing terms such as vegan collagen are abundant.

Vegan collagen supplements are often described as collagen ‘boosters’, ‘activators’, or ‘builders,’ meaning they don’t provide collagen but rather contain nutrients, such as vitamin C, which are needed for the building process of collagen. However, several studies have shown that collagen peptides with vitamin C are far more effective at increasing collagen production in the body than vitamin C alone.

What sets our patented Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP®) apart from vegan alternatives and other collagen supplements is their ability to initiate a ‘lock and key’ receptor interaction with the surface of collagen-producing cells. This interaction acts as a catalyst, prompting the cells to significantly increase not only collagen synthesis but also elastin and hyaluronic acid production.
Yes, building blocks, co-factors, and enzymes are necessary components for collagen formation, but they alone are not sufficient to stimulate the metabolic activity of these cells effectively.
Remember, as collagen-producing cells gradually lose their activity with age, the essential requirement for external stimulation via BCP® becomes paramount to effectively improve collagen levels.

Therefore, it is not enough to have a vegan ‘collagen’ supplement containing certain amino acids and vitamin C and expect wondrous results. Vegan ‘collagen’ supplements typically contain amino acids such as proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline, which account for 50% of the complex collagen molecule. However, collagen peptides contain a unique combination and concentration of 18 amino acids that are essential for the formation and maintenance of collagen in the body.
Thankfully, our formula contains all the necessary building blocks and nutrients needed to form collagen and also protect it from breakdown. This is why we call it the Superior Collagen Formulation.

Studies have also shown that collagen peptides are more efficiently absorbed by the body than individual amino acids. One study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that collagen peptides were absorbed more efficiently by the intestines than free amino acids and were more effectively delivered to target tissues, such as the skin.

The reductionist approach of providing just a few types of free amino acids or basic nutrients involved in collagen production is less effective. It does not consider the complex interactions and synergies between the different amino acids and other components of collagen, such as glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. These interactions and synergies are critical for the biological activity and efficacy of collagen in the body.

I hope this knowledge equips you to discern marketing hype from real effectiveness. With our BCP® and synergistic co-ingredients designed to bolster collagen formation and safeguard against breakdown, you have made the superior choice for your health.