What marine collagen is
Collagen is a protein found in animal tissue. Marine collagen is extracted from fish; Swanson, for example, names tilapia on its label. Almost all of it is sold hydrolysed: the protein has been split into short chains called peptides, which dissolve in water and can be pressed into tablets or filled into capsules. When a marine collagen label names a type, it is usually type I. Swanson's Merikol is described as tripeptides, chains of three amino acids.
Marine collagen in our range
| Product | Form | Collagen per daily dose | Also contains | Pack lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OstroVit Marine Collagen, pear | powder, 5 scoops | 2200 mg | flavouring, sweeteners | 76 days |
| OstroVit Marine Collagen + hyaluronic acid, coconut and peach | powder, 1-2 servings of 4 scoops | 2200-4400 mg | 40-80 mg hyaluronic acid, 80-160 mg vitamin C | 40-80 days |
| OstroVit Marine Collagen + hyaluronic acid | 4 tablets | 2200 mg | 120 mg hyaluronic acid, 80 mg vitamin C | 22 days |
| OstroVit Marine Collagen | 2 capsules | 2040 mg | nothing else active | 45 days |
| Swanson Marine Collagen Peptides, type I | 2 capsules | 1 g | nothing else active | 30 days |
Grams per portion
Marine collagen comes in smaller portions than bovine collagen powders, which are often taken at 10 g or 20 g a day. Our marine products range from 1 g in two capsules to 4.4 g in two powder servings. A powder gives the most collagen per serving and is usually the cheapest per gram. With capsules and tablets you take several units for each gram or two. To compare fairly, divide the price per day by the grams of collagen per day.
Marine collagen with vitamin C
The EU has not authorised a health claim for collagen itself. Vitamin C does have authorised claims about collagen formation, for example: "Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin." and "Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones." These claims describe the vitamin C, not the fish collagen, and they apply only to products that contain vitamin C: the two OstroVit products with hyaluronic acid. One serving or one daily dose of either gives 80 mg of vitamin C, which is 100% of the NRV.
Allergens and other label notes
Fish is one of the 14 allergens that EU law requires labels to highlight, and every product here is made from fish. OstroVit labels also warn that the products may contain traces of other allergens, crustaceans among them. The OstroVit capsules have a gelatin shell; the Swanson capsules are HPMC, a plant cellulose. The flavoured powders are sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame K. OstroVit says its products are not for children or for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and Swanson does not recommend its capsules during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Questions
Marine or bovine collagen?
The difference is the raw material and the usual portion size. Choose marine collagen if you prefer fish over beef as a source, and bovine powders if you want 10 g or more in one scoop.
Is marine collagen good for the skin?
There is no authorised claim for collagen and skin. The skin claim quoted above belongs to vitamin C and applies only to products that contain it.
How do I take marine collagen powder?
Use the 1 ml scoop in the tub. For the pear powder, mix 5 scoops into 100-150 ml of water once a day. For the coconut and peach powder, mix 4 scoops into 100 ml of water, one or two times a day.
Can I take it with a fish allergy?
No. All marine collagen is made from fish.
Sources
- EU Register of nutrition and health claims
- Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (permitted health claims)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II (allergens) and Annex XIII (reference intakes)
- EFSA: Health claims
Content reviewed by Inese Kalniņa, dietitian.
2026-09-21