Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, the brand’s flagship product in the blue tub, contains types I and III collagen. These are the two most abundant collagen types in the human body, and they show up across nearly every product in the Vital Proteins lineup.
Types I and III: What They Do
Type I collagen makes up roughly 90% of all the collagen in your body. It forms the structural backbone of your skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments, providing both strength and elasticity. When people talk about collagen for skin health or joint support, type I is usually what they mean.
Type III collagen plays a supporting role in muscles, arteries, and organs. It often appears alongside type I in connective tissues and is especially concentrated in skin during younger years, gradually declining with age. Both types work together to maintain the structural integrity of tissues throughout your body.
Collagen Types by Product
The standard Collagen Peptides (unflavored, chocolate, vanilla, and lemon varieties) all contain types I and III collagen sourced from bovine hide. The Marine Collagen product also contains types I and III, but it comes from the scales of wild-caught cod harvested from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Alaska. If you follow a pescatarian diet, the marine version gives you the same collagen types without a beef-derived source.
Both the bovine and marine products are hydrolyzed, meaning the collagen protein has been broken down by enzymes into smaller peptides. This is what makes the powder dissolve in hot or cold liquids. By contrast, Vital Proteins also sells a Beef Gelatin product that skips this enzymatic step, leaving the molecules larger and only soluble in hot liquids. Gelatin works well for thickening soups or making desserts, but it won’t stir into your iced coffee.
Where the Collagen Comes From
The bovine collagen in Vital Proteins comes from cattle raised predominantly on outdoor pastures with access to fresh grass, air, and water. The company describes this sourcing as “grass-fed and pasture-raised,” though it notes that cattle may occasionally be moved indoors for welfare reasons. Because their diet can diversify during those periods, Vital Proteins does not guarantee the collagen is sourced from 100% grass-fed cattle.
The marine collagen is non-GMO certified and sourced from wild-caught Alaskan cod scales, not farmed fish. Each serving of the marine product provides 12 grams of collagen peptides.
Third-Party Certification
Several Vital Proteins products, including the core Collagen Peptides, carry NSF Certified for Sport certification. This means an independent lab has tested for label accuracy, contaminants, and banned substances. The certification covers the unflavored Collagen Peptides, Chocolate Collagen Peptides, Vanilla and Lemon Collagen Peptides, stick packs, and several performance-focused products like the Whey + Collagen blends and Collagen Peptides + Creatine. Not every product in the Vital Proteins catalog carries this certification, so check the label if third-party testing matters to you.
What Vital Proteins Does Not Contain
You won’t find type II collagen in any standard Vital Proteins product. Type II is the primary collagen in cartilage and is typically sourced from chicken sternum or other poultry-derived materials. If you’re specifically looking for type II collagen for cartilage support, you’d need a different supplement. Vital Proteins focuses almost exclusively on the type I and III combination, which reflects the composition naturally found in bovine hide and fish scales.