What Is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, accounting for roughly 30% of your total protein mass. It forms the structural scaffolding of your skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and gut lining — essentially the connective tissue that holds everything together.

The word collagen comes from the Greek kólla, meaning glue. That's an apt description: collagen fibres provide the mechanical framework that lets tissues withstand mechanical stress without tearing. Gram for gram, a single collagen fibre is stronger than steel — which is why tendons can absorb enormous force without snapping.

Unlike proteins your body uses primarily for energy or muscle building, collagen is predominantly structural. It forms long, rope-like triple-helix structures that give tissues their characteristic combination of tensile strength and flexibility.

There are at least 28 identified types of collagen in the human body, but the vast majority falls into five main types. Each has a distinct amino acid composition and structural role. For supplementation purposes, Types I and III are by far the most relevant — and most researched.

Type I is the most abundant collagen in the body, found primarily in skin, tendons, and bone. It provides tensile strength and is responsible for skin's firmness. Type III collagen is found alongside Type I in skin and blood vessels, contributing to elasticity and wound healing. High-quality bovine collagen supplements, including Collagen Greens, contain both.

You're born with abundant collagen. Children's skin bounces back instantly, their joints recover quickly, and their bones are dense. Starting in your mid-twenties, however, your body produces approximately 1% less collagen every year.

By your forties, the cumulative effect becomes visible — skin loses firmness and develops fine lines, joints feel stiffer, and recovery from exercise takes longer. By your sixties, you may have lost over a third of your peak collagen mass.

Several factors accelerate this decline beyond normal ageing: UV exposure directly activates enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases) that degrade collagen fibres. Smoking reduces skin blood flow and generates free radicals that damage collagen. High-sugar diets promote glycation — a process that cross-links and stiffens collagen, impairing its function.

The research on collagen supplementation has matured considerably. A 2019 systematic review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology analysed 11 randomised controlled trials involving over 800 patients and found that oral collagen supplementation significantly improved skin elasticity and hydration, and reduced wrinkle depth — with effects typically observed within 4–8 weeks.

For joint health, a 24-week study in Current Medical Research and Opinion found that athletes taking 10g of collagen hydrolysate daily experienced significantly reduced joint pain during activity compared to placebo. The proposed mechanism: collagen peptides accumulate in cartilage and stimulate chondrocytes (cartilage-building cells) to produce more collagen locally.

Bone density is another emerging area. A 2018 RCT in Nutrients found that post-menopausal women taking collagen peptides alongside calcium and vitamin D had significantly lower rates of bone mineral density loss than the control group.

Clinical trials have used doses ranging from 2.5g to 15g per day. The effective dose varies by outcome: skin studies typically use 2.5–5g, while joint and bone studies more commonly use 8–10g. Most evidence suggests diminishing returns beyond around 15g daily.

Collagen Greens provides 4g of hydrolysed bovine collagen per serving — a clinically meaningful dose that aligns with skin outcome studies and contributes meaningfully toward the higher doses studied for joints.

Consistency matters more than dose size. Collagen studies run for 8–24 weeks because you are gradually rebuilding structural tissue. Daily supplementation is essential — sporadic use will not produce meaningful results.

Most collagen supplements are standalone powders or capsules. Collagen Greens is the UK's only formula combining 4g hydrolysed bovine collagen (Types I & III), 4g creatine monohydrate, and six premium super greens — spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass, barley grass, broccoli and kale — in a single daily scoop.

Creatine and collagen address two distinct aspects of physical performance: collagen supports connective tissue (skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage), while creatine supports muscle performance, strength, and recovery. For anyone who trains or wants to maintain muscle mass as they age, combining both makes physiological sense.

The super greens component — particularly spirulina and chlorella — provides antioxidants and phytonutrients that help neutralise the free radicals that degrade collagen. You are not just adding collagen; you are also reducing the oxidative damage that breaks it down.