What Is Bovine Collagen, and Should You Try It?

Anyone who has read a beauty blog or magazine lately has likely come across content about bovine collagen. What is it, and why has the product become such a recent sensation? More importantly, what should people know before taking it?

What Is Bovine Collagen?

Bovine collagen comes from proteins taken from muscles, bones and skin of the bovine species, including cattle and bison. Cowhides and tendons are the most widely utilized sources. Some bovine collagen sellers refer to it as beef collagen.

Is Bovine Collagen the Same as Bovine Gelatin?

Bovine collagen and bovine gelatin come from identical sources. However, the processing method differs slightly because it is longer for gelatin. People often notice bovine gelatin on the ingredient lists of products ranging from yogurts to candies. That substance provides a jelly-like texture for many consumables. 

Collagen is a protein found abundantly in the body. Turning it into gelatin involves a longer boiling time to break down the amino acids further. Further processing differences depend on how a company sells its bovine collagen. For example, these products are commonly available as powders, drinks or pills.  Additionally, whereas gelatin solidifies in water, collagen does not. 

How Is Bovine Collagen Sourced? 

Bovine collagen is a by-product of the meat processing industry, taken from cows killed for food. After people learn that reality, some want to know if buying vegetarian or vegan versions of collagen-based supplements is possible.

These options are certainly rarer than the traditional ones, but some brands offer them. In those cases, the products do not contain actual collagen. Instead, these supplements often have bioengineered ingredients, along with carefully chosen vitamins. These products boost a person’s natural collagen production.

Why Do People Take Bovine Collagen?

The natural aging process causes people to gradually make less collagen, and this reduction can begin as early as a person’s mid-20s. Also, while it becomes more difficult for the body to create collagen, that which is already in the body begins to break down. 

Studies indicate collagen supplementation may cause various health improvements. The possible benefits include better skin hydration and elasticity, improved muscle mass and heart health and reduced bone loss. 

It doesn’t hurt that many celebrities and influencers count collagen supplements among their daily regimens. Relatedly, these products are widely available at health food and grocery stores, making them tempting to someone who feels even mildly curious.

Although side effects are generally mild, some people experience them, primarily through digestive issues, such as upset stomach and diarrhea. Anyone thinking about taking them should talk to their doctor before getting started. That is especially true when an individual becomes interested in bovine collagen because they want to address a recent health concern they have not yet discussed with a medical professional.

Additionally, those who read studies about bovine collagen should review the content carefully and try not to jump to hasty conclusions while getting excited about their anticipated benefits. As some dermatologists point out, the studies about collagen’s effects on skin, nails and hair are too small to confirm meaningful benefits. 

What About Environmental and Ethical Concerns?

As people learn more about bovine collagen, they may encounter information that makes them think twice about taking it. More specifically, research has emerged that sheds light on the environmental harms associated with these products. 

During one seven-month study, journalists in the United Kingdom and Brazil teamed up to investigate collagen production in depth. By examining an exhaustive list of data, conducting expert interviews and tracing items through supply chains, the group found information that would surprise many people who currently take collagen supplements or are interested in them.

For example, many such products advertise links to grass-fed cows. That strategy gives customers the impression that they are making ethical purchasing decisions by buying from companies that treat the cows well. However, choices people can feel good about are often not as clear-cut as they first seem. More specifically, the journalists found that some of the land now used for cows was once a rainforest or the homelands of people who have lived there for generations. 

The journalists also became familiar with three slaughterhouses connected to the collagen industry, finding those entities responsible for more than 2,500 square kilometers associated with deforestation and the forced removal of those who had lived on the land for generations. Those actions had also happened recently.

Anyone who is still interested in bovine collagen after learning these details should do whatever they can to trace the supply chain and only purchase from suppliers with a long history of reputable operations. Additionally, people must remember that it is often extremely challenging or impossible to track the ethics of every supply chain partner. 

Alternatives to Supplements

Many people choose to eat less or no meat, and some mention environmental commitments as their primary concerns. However, a common public concern is that those on such diets will not get enough essential nutrients. However, those individuals can easily tackle that potential issue by thoroughly researching which foods contain what they need and making recipes that include them. 

People interested in collagen can do something similar by boosting their intake of things that contain high amounts of it or stimulate production. For example, berries and citrus fruits contain vitamin C, which encourages the body to make collagen. Additionally, people who eat meat can choose chicken with the skin still on or steaks with connective tissue remaining. Those are both natural collagen sources. 

Another option is to review steps that can give similar results to those that collagen supplements may provide. For example, people who want to maintain healthy skin as they age can apply sunscreen each day. Alternatively, those interested in the potential heart and bone benefits of such supplements could work with a fitness expert to get personally designed routines to mimic those outcomes. 

Bovine Collagen: Popular, But Not Right for Everyone

Despite the rising popularity of bovine collagen, many people decide it is not worth trying. That is especially true if they are eco-conscious and mindful of trying to minimize their negative impacts. Use the above material and other sources to shape your choices, increasing the chances you feel maximally informed and confident.