Bovine Collagen: Benefits, Types, and Side Effects

As the most abundant protein in the body, collagen provides a structural framework for our skin, bone, muscles, tendons, and cartilage. 

But it’s not just found in humans—collagen is also an essential structural protein for cows, chickens, pigs, and some marine species like fish. 

Although humans produce about 1% less collagen each year after turning 40, collagen supplements are now easily accessible, with the most popular form being bovine collagen. 

In this article, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about bovine collagen, including its top four health benefits, different types of supplements, and how to use bovine collagen.

What is Bovine Collagen?

Although the term bovine can refer to cow, yak, antelope, bison, or water buffalo, bovine collagen primarily comes from cows. 

Bovine collagen is made by boiling cow bones, connective tissue, cartilage, or hides in water (yum!), after which the collagen is extracted, dried, and made into a powdered form. 

Although there are many similarities between bovine and marine collagen, the primary types of collagen present in the two can differ. 

Almost 30 types of collagen exist in the body, but the main types are I, II, III, and IV. 

Bovine collagen is rich in types I and III collagen, while marine sources provide more of type I and II. 

As the collagen in our skin is mainly made up of types I and III collagen, bovine collagen may be the best option for supporting skin health, including increasing hydration and elasticity and reducing wrinkles. 

Types I and III are also beneficial for supporting our bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, digestive tract, and blood vessels. 

Bovine collagen contains 18 amino acids, three of which are particularly important and hard to find elsewhere in the diet—glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. 

These three amino acids are the building blocks of our body’s collagen, helping with tendon and ligament structure, supporting immune function, and reducing inflammation. 

However, keep in mind that bovine collagen—and all collagen sources—are not complete proteins, meaning it does not contain all nine essential amino acids. 

Top 4 Benefits of Bovine Collagen

1. Skin Health

The most-studied aspect of collagen is likely its relationship to skin health. 

Collagen is a major component of the extracellular matrix, a structural component of the skin’s dermis. 

With age, collagen becomes fragmented rather than compact, which reduces the skin’s elasticity and can contribute to wrinkles. 

The proline and hydroxyproline in collagen improve skin elasticity by stimulating the growth of dermal fibroblasts—cells that generate connective tissue and elastic fibers. 

In a 2021 meta-analysis, researchers combined data from 19 studies, finding that people who took hydrolyzed collagen supplements for an average of 90 days had improved skin hydration and elasticity with wrinkle reduction compared to people taking a placebo. 

In another study, women aged 40 to 60 who consumed a drink containing 1g of type I collagen peptides—the type found abundantly in bovine collagen—daily for 12 weeks experienced improvements in skin hydration and elasticity and reductions in the appearance of wrinkles.

2. Joint Health

Collagen is necessary to maintain the elasticity and firmness of our tendons and ligaments—and a breakdown in these tissues can lead to joint pain or disorders like osteoarthritis. 

Although type II collagen is the form most often associated with our joints, type III is also important, as a small but significant amount of this type is deposited in our joints’ articular cartilage. 

In a 2017 study, young athletes who took 5g of collagen peptides daily for 12 weeks experienced significant reductions in pain intensity while exercising compared to those who took a placebo. 

Plus, research with people with knee osteoarthritis who took 5g of bovine collagen twice per day for 13 weeks had significant improvements in their symptoms. 

Lastly, an animal study of mice with osteoarthritis found that type I collagen supplementation reduced inflammation in knee joints, preserved cartilage, and increased chondrocyte numbers—cells that produce and maintain the extracellular matrix and cartilaginous tissues within joints. 

3. Bone Density

Collagen, mainly type I, accounts for about 80% of the total protein mass of the skeleton. 

Although most younger people tend to have strong bones, older adults—including 54% and 30% of postmenopausal women—are respectively afflicted by low bone mineral density (osteopenia) and severe bone loss (osteoporosis). 

In a randomized controlled trial published in Nutrients, postmenopausal women who supplemented with collagen for 12 months showed increased spine and femoral bone mineral density and increased blood levels of a bone formation protein. 

These outcomes suggest that supplementing with collagen may play a role in maintaining healthy bones.

4. Hair and Nail Health 

Collagen may prevent brittle nails and support hair growth, although this research is inconclusive. 

One study found that supplemental collagen increased nail growth rate by 12% and decreased the frequency of broken nails by 42% after the 24-week study. 

However, the potential of collagen to increase hair growth is primarily anecdotal—we don’t yet have evidence-based research. 

But the theories behind collagen’s role in supporting hair growth are relatively solid. 

The main protein component of hair is keratin, which contains large amounts of the amino acids glycine and proline that are found in collagen.

When the body lacks keratin, hair loss or thinning occurs—so collagen consumption could, in theory, help with keratin production.

Plus, collagen may help support the hair follicle.

Hair follicles consist of epidermal and dermal components (found in our skin’s top and middle layers). 

In the dermis, the dermal sheath (where the hair root is found) is made up of 70% collagen —therefore, it’s plausible that providing your body with collagen may help maintain a healthy dermis and support hair growth.

Types of Bovine Collagen Supplements

​​Hydrolyzed bovine collagen and gelatin are the two primary forms of bovine collagen found in supplements.

Although both have the same levels of protein and amino acids, they have different structures.  

Hydrolyzed collagen—also called collagen hydrolysate or collagen peptides—is collagen that has been broken down into smaller units of protein (peptides). 

As these bits are smaller, hydrolyzed collagen is easier for our bodies to digest and absorb—and they are also easier to dissolve in liquids, making it more convenient to consume.

On the other hand, gelatin is sometimes referred to as “cooked collagen,” as it’s obtained from heating collagen. 

The main difference between gelatin and collagen is that gelatin only dissolves in hot water and forms a gel-like substance. 

In contrast, collagen can dissolve easily in various liquids at different temperatures.

For these reasons, gelatin is commonly used to thicken sauces or create jellies (yep, that’s where JELL-O comes from). 

Bovine collagen is most often found in powder form, but you can also find it in capsules, beverages, and gummies. 

A few of our favorite bovine collagen supplements include: 

• Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel—a powder containing 10g of bovine collagen (types I and III) per serving in vanilla or chocolate flavors.
• Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Peptides—capsules loaded with four of the most common types of collagen (I, II, III, and V) plus Type X, which helps new bone formation in articular cartilage.
• Further Food Collagen Peptides—an unflavored powder that provides 8g of types I and III collagen peptides from grass-fed and pasture-raised hydrolyzed bovine hide. 

FAQs About Bovine Collagen

Key Takeaways

• Bovine collagen typically comes from cowhide or bones and provides high amounts of Types I and III collagen. 
• Bovine collagen is linked to improved skin, joint, bone, hair, and nail health, although more research is needed in some areas.