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Glossary

What is hydrolyzed collagen?

Written by the Full Measure editorial team, which sells supplements. Approved for publication by the Full Measure owners. Updated .

Drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below. How we write these

Quick answer

Hydrolyzed collagen, also sold as collagen peptides or collagen hydrolysate, is collagen that has been heated and then cut by enzymes into small peptides, typically 3 to 6 kDa. It comes from cattle, pigs or fish, from skin, bones or scales. It dissolves readily in water.1

Key facts

  • Collagen is built mostly from glycine, about 33% of its amino acids, with proline and hydroxyproline making up about 22%.1
  • Heating collagen above about 40 degrees Celsius separates its three chains, and enzymes such as papain or pepsin then cut them into peptides.1
  • Whole collagen molecules weigh about 300 kDa; the peptides in hydrolyzed collagen are about 3 to 6 kDa.1
  • By the standard protein quality score, collagen lacks the essential amino acid tryptophan and counts as an incomplete protein.2

From collagen to peptides

Collagen is a structural protein found in skin, bone, tendon and other tissues, made of three long chains wound into a triple helix. Heating unwinds the chains, and protein-cutting enzymes then break them into short peptides. The result is hydrolyzed collagen, also called collagen hydrolysate or collagen peptides.1

Gelatin is also made from collagen in skin, connective tissue or bone. Hydrolyzed collagen behaves differently from native collagen: it is highly soluble in water but cannot form films on its own.1,3

Where it comes from

  • Bovine: from cattle.1
  • Porcine: from pigs.1
  • Marine: from fish skin, scales and bones.1
  • Other sources studied include chicken, duck and rabbit skin.1

The source and the way it is hydrolyzed affect the peptides' size and solubility, so two collagen products are not identical even at the same weight.1

Hydrolyzed collagen as a protein

Hydrolyzed collagen counts toward protein intake, but it is an incomplete protein because it lacks tryptophan. A 2019 analysis calculated that collagen peptides could replace up to 36% of the protein in a typical Western diet while essential amino acid needs are still met. One of its authors does research work for a maker of collagen supplements.2

Check the source

Hydrolyzed collagen is made from animals. If you have a fish allergy, or avoid beef or pork, check the source on the label or ask the maker before you take it.1

Questions people ask

Is hydrolyzed collagen the same as collagen peptides?

Yes. Both names describe collagen broken down into small peptides by heat and enzymes, and collagen hydrolysate is a third name for the same thing.1

Is hydrolyzed collagen vegan?

No. It is made from animal tissue, such as the skin, bones or scales of cattle, pigs or fish.1

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Sources

  1. León-López A, Morales-Peñaloza A, Martínez-Juárez VM, et al. Hydrolyzed Collagen: Sources and Applications. Molecules. 2019;24(22):4031. Opened 2026-10-07.
  2. Paul C, Leser S, Oesser S. Significant Amounts of Functional Collagen Peptides Can Be Incorporated in the Diet While Maintaining Indispensable Amino Acid Balance. Nutrients. 2019;11(5):1079. Opened 2026-10-07.
  3. Medical Subject Headings, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Gelatin, descriptor D005780. Opened 2026-10-07.

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.