At Ancient + Brave, we understand that oversimplifying the science of collagen and overstating its benefits makes it difficult to know who to trust. That's why we create collagen products rooted in research, invest in rigorous clinical trials, and share the results with you.
As a team of nutritionists and scientists who spend every day studying how nutrients work in the body, we've myth-busted some of the most common and confusing collagen claims we've come across.
Collagen Myth: You Can Get All the Collagen You Need from Eating Protein
We're big advocates of getting enough high-quality protein throughout the day from whole-food sources. Collagen works best as part of a genuinely nourishing diet, not as a replacement for one.
However, it's important to understand that collagen is naturally rich in specific amino acids, including glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, that the body uses to build its own collagen. Supplementing with collagen helps provide these building blocks as part of your daily nutrition.
Mechanism matters, too. Collagen doesn't travel directly to your skin intact. During digestion, it's broken down into amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and peptides (small chains of these amino acids). Hydrolyzed collagen peptides, like those used in True Collagen and Wild Collagen, are small enough to be absorbed intact into the bloodstream. Research suggests these peptides may act as signaling molecules, helping support the body's natural collagen production by communicating with fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen.
"It's a dual mechanism: the right signals and the right raw materials. That's what sets quality collagen apart from simply eating more protein."
Jo Woodhurst, Director of Nutrition & Education at Ancient + Brave
Collagen Myth: You Need Vitamin C to Absorb Collagen Supplements
You don't. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about collagen, and marketing has only added to the confusion.
Collagen peptides are absorbed independently. Vitamin C's role in collagen production happens within your tissues, where it supports the enzymes responsible for stabilizing collagen once it's formed.
A 2025 study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that dietary vitamin C intake (from two kiwis per day) supports collagen production and skin renewal. Rather than being something that must be added to your collagen supplement, vitamin C simply needs to be consistently available in the body through a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, not necessarily taken alongside your collagen at the exact same time.
Collagen Myth: You Need All the Different Types of Collagen in One Supplement
Not true. Let's break down the science.
Different types of collagen exist depending on where they're found in the body and the role they play. Type I is found primarily in skin and bone, Type II is found in cartilage, and so on. However, once collagen is hydrolyzed (broken down into the peptides and amino acids your body can absorb), the original collagen type is no longer what matters. Your body uses the peptides and amino acids it's given.
A collagen product that advertises Types I through V is often describing the raw material before processing, not necessarily what your body ultimately uses after digestion.
The one exception is undenatured Type II collagen, which is intentionally not hydrolyzed. It works through an entirely different mechanism specific to joint health. It's a separate ingredient that's typically best suited for capsules rather than collagen powders, which is why we offer Noble Collagen as our targeted Type II joint support supplement.
Collagen Myth: You Need to Take Both Bovine and Marine Collagen Together
Marine and bovine collagen are often compared, with some believing marine collagen is better for skin while bovine collagen is better for joints.
The truth is that both support skin, hair, and whole-body health, so there is no need to take them together. Once hydrolyzed, the body doesn't distinguish whether collagen came from a fish or a cow. Both are broken down into the same building blocks before the body uses them, and we're not aware of any clinical evidence showing that combining both sources provides additional benefits.
The most important thing is choosing a high-quality collagen, taking an appropriate daily serving, and using it consistently. Beyond that, the choice between marine and bovine collagen comes down to personal preference, dietary choices, ethical considerations, and what you enjoy adding to your daily routine. Both are excellent options, and neither is inherently better than the other.
Collagen Myth: Collagen Doesn't Survive Heat, So What's the Point?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions we hear. Hydrolyzed collagen is specifically designed to withstand the digestive process, and it can absolutely handle your morning cup of coffee.
In fact, the hydrolysis process itself involves carefully controlled temperatures at multiple stages to create peptides with an optimal molecular weight for absorption.
That said, collagen isn't indestructible. It's a natural ingredient, and extreme heat will eventually have an effect. However, research published in the Biophysical Journal found that collagen doesn't begin to degrade until temperatures reach around 300°C (572°F). Since boiling water reaches 100°C (212°F), you can confidently stir collagen into hot coffee, tea, or cacao. Our neutral-tasting collagen dissolves beautifully into all three.
Collagen Myth: Collagen Is Just Broken Down into Amino Acids Anyway, So There's No Point in Taking It
This is actually exactly what we want to happen.
True Collagen and Wild Collagen are already hydrolyzed, meaning the collagen has been broken down into peptides and amino acids that the body can efficiently absorb.
Research suggests that some of these peptides are absorbed intact into the bloodstream, where they may help support the body's natural collagen production. That's what makes hydrolyzed collagen different from simply eating more protein.
A 2024 randomized controlled trial published in Frontiers in Nutrition confirmed that significant amounts of collagen peptides reach the bloodstream intact after ingestion. Our hydrolyzed collagen peptides fall within the 2,000–5,000 Da molecular weight range, which has been shown to support optimal absorption and collagen synthesis.
Collagen Myth: There's No Science Behind Collagen Supplements, and the Research That Exists Is Industry-Funded, So It Doesn't Count
The research surrounding collagen has expanded considerably over the past decade, and the strongest evidence isn't always where most brands focus the conversation.
Some of the most robust research exists in areas such as joint health, bone health, healthy aging, sports recovery, cardiovascular health, and fall prevention in older adults. Across these areas, multiple independent and industry-funded randomized controlled trials point in the same direction. This is where the science is strongest, and it's why we've always focused on whole-body health.
When it comes to skin health, the picture is a little more nuanced. The majority of clinical evidence is positive, but many of those studies have been industry funded. That doesn't mean collagen doesn't support skin health. The biological mechanism is well understood, and we stand behind our own clinical research. However, compared with research on joint and musculoskeletal health, the independent evidence for skin continues to grow.
Which brings us to the question of funding itself.
We've all been taught to evaluate industry-funded research carefully, and that's important. There have been cases where poor research practices have damaged public trust, and healthy skepticism is absolutely appropriate.
However, the reality of nutrition research is that without industry funding, much of what we know about collagen, probiotics, omega-3s, and vitamin D simply wouldn't exist. Public research funding is limited and highly competitive, and preventive nutrition research is rarely prioritized. That means industry funding is often what makes this type of research possible.
What matters most isn't who funds the study, but how the study is designed and conducted. High-quality randomized controlled trials include safeguards to minimize bias. We understand this firsthand because we've completed one ourselves.
"Yes, many collagen studies are funded by the companies that produce them, including ours.
But this isn't unique to collagen. Industry-funded research is common across the field of nutrition, from probiotics to omega-3s to vitamin D. Public funding bodies rarely prioritize food-based interventions despite their potential for population-level impact. Without industry support, many of the advances we now take for granted simply wouldn't exist. What matters isn't who funds a study, but how the study is conducted. In that regard, collagen science has come a long way."
Dr. Jenna Macciochi, Director of Science & Innovation
Collagen Myth: You Can't Target Where Collagen Goes, So If It's Not Going to Your Skin, What's the Point?
This misconception comes from collagen often being marketed as a beauty supplement when it's really a whole-body supplement.
Your body naturally directs nutrients where they're needed most, whether that's your joints, connective tissue, gut lining, or skin. While we can't tell the body exactly where to use collagen, we can provide the building blocks that support these natural processes.
Research, including our own clinical trial, demonstrates that collagen also supports multiple measures of skin health. These benefits build over time, which is why consistency matters far more than any single serving.
*A fair-skinned, red-haired woman stands in sunlight with her eyes closed. True Collagen Sachets delivered clinically measured improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, and the appearance of wrinkles in our clinical trial.
Closing Thoughts
You don't need to combine multiple collagen types, stack marine and bovine collagen together, or choose a formula packed with unnecessary ingredients. The beauty of collagen lies in its simplicity. Quality and consistency are what matter most.
Collagen supplementation is about providing the body with the building blocks and signals that help support its natural collagen production. Choose an evidence-backed collagen supplement, pair it with a balanced diet, and give it time. Collagen isn't designed to be a quick fix, it's about supporting your body over the long term.
