What is the difference between type I and type II collagen, and what are they used for?

A:

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is one of the major building blocks of bone, skin, tendons, muscles and ligaments. Collagen can be obtained in various ways; by eating cartilage from bone, consuming fish with bones or organ meats, drinking bone broth, or by supplementing with collagen peptides.
There are 28 different types of collagen, with each type being based on its individual amino acid composition. However, types I, II and III are the most common types of collagen found within the human body.
In answer to your question, type I collagen accounts for 90% of the body’s collagen with its role being to provide structure to bone, skin, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue. It is most dominant within connective tissues. Type II collagen is primarily found in cartilage, which helps to cushion the joints, and is important for supporting a healthy skeletal system.
Sources of collagen include; marine collagen which comes from the skin, bones and scales of fish and other sea life; bovine collagen which is sourced from the skin and bones of cows; and chicken collagen which comes from the skin and bones of poultry.
Factors which can contribute to the loss of collagen include age, genetics, inflammation or injury (speeds up the breakdown of collagen), the environment (UV rays and pollution), lifestyle habits (smoking) and poor diet.

Our new Marine Collagen supplement provides type I collagen from wild caught, sustainable marine collagen peptides sourced from whitefish, and is odourless and tasteless. Our CytoProtect® Joints supplement has been formulated using type II collagen, which has been extracted from bovine cartilage.