Supplements

Bioactive Collagen Peptides: Health Benefits, How They're Different from Collagen Peptides, & FAQs

Written by Caroline Nicks, NASM CPT

Updated on July 5, 2024

Collagen is often referred to as the glue that holds your body together. It makes up one-third of the protein in your body and is what’s responsible for hydrated skin, thicker hair, healthy nails, strong bones, ache-free joints, and more (1). Here’s where things get tricky…

Your body naturally produces collagen on its own, but once you reach your mid-to-late 20s, that natural collagen production begins to decline. And by the age of 40, you’re losing about 1% of your collagen per year (2). This means by 60 years old, you’ve lost 50% of the collagen you were born with.

Line graph showing the decline in collagen levels in the body per decade.

You’re likely low in collagen if you experience one or more of the following:

  • Brittle nails
  • Sagging skin
  • Thinning hair (or your hair isn’t growing as fast as it used to)
  • Weaker bones (you have a low T-score or have broken a bone recently)
  • Stiffy, achy joints
  • Irregular digestion

Luckily, there are ways you can help combat low collagen levels. This is where a bioactive collagen supplement comes into play.

In this article, you’ll learn what bioactive collagen peptides are, how they’re different from collagen peptides, the health benefits of bioactive collagen, and where to buy it. And if you're already taking a collagen supplement, you'll find out how bioactive collagen peptides work differently—and how you can incorporate them into your current collagen routine.

Table Of Contents

What Are Bioactive Collagen Peptides?

Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP) come from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine—specifically their bones and hide. This makes BCPs the purest, most potent source of Type 1 and 3 collagen—the two most abundant types of collagen in the body (3, 4).

Bioactive Collagen Peptides are unique in that they stimulate the body to produce more collagen, whereas normal collagen peptides simply contribute to the building blocks of collagen in the body.

Rather than the standard collagen peptide dosage of 10 to 20 grams, one only needs 2.5 to 7 grams of Bioactive Collagen Peptides to experience positive results in their skin, hair, nails, and bones.

Bioactive Collagen vs. Collagen Peptides: What’s the Difference?

Most of the collagen supplements that you see on the market are collagen peptides. That said, there’s one main difference between collagen peptides and bioactive collagen peptides…

Bioactive Collagen Peptides help you make your own collagen. Whereas Collagen Peptides simply restore the collagen you’ve lost.

Imagine you’re a car and you take both Bioactive Collagen Peptides and Collagen Peptides. The Bioactive Peptides would help you produce more gas on your own (AKA, you wouldn’t need to “fill your tank” as much.) Collagen Peptides, on the other hand, act as fuel. They fill up your tank when it’s low.

Graphic showing the difference between native collagen in raw material and bioactive collagen peptides.

Health Benefits of Bioactive Collagen Peptides

When it comes to the health benefits of Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP), it depends on which BCP you’re using. BCPs are composed of a variety of peptides, each optimized for a specific health benefit. These different peptides have proprietary names:

  • FORTIBONE: enhances bone health by stimulating osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and reducing osteoclasts (bone-breaking cells)
  • VERISOL: enhances skin health by stimulating fibroblasts (the cells that produce collagen)
  • BODYBALANCE: tones the body by stimulating the fat metabolism
  • TENDOFORTE: increases the strength of ligaments and tendons

Let’s dive into the specific health benefits that Bioactive Collagen Peptides offer…

1. Can Help Maintain Skin Elasticity

69 women aged 35 to 55 years old were given either 2.5 grams or 5 grams of BCP or a placebo daily for 8 weeks. After just four weeks, skin elasticity increased by 7% (5).

Line graph showing the improvement in skin elasticity from participants taking either 2.5 or 5 grams of VERISOL Bioactive Collagen Peptides per day for 4 and 8 weeks.

2. May Reduce Eye Wrinkles

114 women aged 45 to 65 years old were given either 2.5 grams of BCP or a placebo daily for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, eye wrinkle volume decreased by a staggering 20%. There was even a 50% reduction that was achieved (6). This positive outcome seems to be caused by a significant increase in collagen and elastin—two important proteins found in the skin.

Before and after pictures of the eye wrinkles in two participants taking Bioactive Collagen Peptides.

3. May Improve the Appearance of Cellulite

105 women aged 24 to 50 years old with moderate cellulite were given a daily dose of 2.5 grams of BCP or a placebo for 6 months. Those taking BCPs saw a significant decrease in cellulite and skin waviness on the thighs. Skin density (the combination of collagen and elastic) also improved, making the skin more plump and firm (7).

Line graph showing the surface area of cellulite after 3 and 6 months in those taking Bioactive Collagen Peptides or a placebo.

4. Helps Maintain Nail Health

25 participants took 2.5 grams of BCP daily for 24 weeks. The result: the rate of nail growth increased by 12% while the frequency of broken nails decreased by 42%. Four weeks after the trial, 80% of participants agreed that BCP improved their nails’ appearance (8).

Before and after pictures of finger nails from participants taking Bioactive Collagen Peptides.

5. Can Support Hair Thickness

In a 2021 study, a significant increase in hair thickness, structure, and appearance was observed after 16 weeks of use of 2.5 grams of BCP in 44 women aged 39 to 75 (9).

Line graph comparing the hair thickness of participants taking Bioactive Collagen Peptides versus a placebo.

6. Helps Maintain Bone Mineral Density

131 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density took 5 grams of BCP or a placebo for 12 months. In those taking collagen, bone mineral density increased significantly in the spine and neck by 4.2% and 7.7%, respectively. Type 1 collagen also increased, indicating the stimulation of bone formation (10).

Graph showing the T-score (bone mineral density) of study participants taking either Bioactive Collagen Peptides or a placebo.

7. Can Support Improved Bone Healing

28 patients received 10 grams of BCP (FORTIBONE) or a placebo daily for 30 to 90 days. All patients either had a fracture or had just undergone surgery. 79% of the patients taking BCP had a successful outcome (better and faster bone healing), while only 50% of the placebo group saw positive results (11).

Pie graph showing the outcome of participants taking 10 grams of FORTIBONE Bioactive Collagen Peptides.

Can Collagen Peptides and Bioactive Collagen be Taken Together?

Yes, Collagen Peptides (CP) and Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP) can be taken together. Ideally, you’ll want to think of BCP as the cherry on top of your CP supplementation. Collagen Peptides replenish the collagen you’ve lost while Bioactive Collagen Peptides help stimulate collagen production in the body.

Frequently Asked Questions

Type 1 and 3 Collagen are found in Bioactive Collagen Peptides.

The Bottom Line

  • Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It’s often considered the glue that holds the body together.
  • Bioactive Collagen Peptides are unique in that they stimulate the body to produce more collagen.
  • Different peptides target different areas of the body. Such as bones, or hair, skin, and nails.
Caroline Nicks
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Caroline Nicks

Caroline Nicks is the Director of Content at NativePath. Her frustration with the lack of transparency in the food industry—and her slight obsession with checking ingredient labels—led her to obtain her health coach certification (IIN) and personal training certification (NASM) right out of college.

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NativePath has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

    Medical Disclaimer

    This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Chad Walding nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program.

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