¿Por qué es importante el colágeno para la salud?

Porque es la proteína más abundante del cuerpo (cerca del 25% del total) y funciona como el 'pegamento' que da estructura a la piel, los huesos, los cartílagos, los tendones y los ligamentos. Su producción baja alrededor de un 1% al año desde los 25, por eso aparecen arrugas, rigidez articular y piel más seca.

¿Cuánto colágeno se absorbe según el formato?

Un colágeno oral en polvo o cápsula se aprovecha alrededor del 25%, porque atraviesa el estómago, las enzimas digestivas y el hígado. El sublingual llega hasta el 80% (más de tres veces) y el vaginal hasta el 99% en el tejido local. El formato decide cuánto llega de verdad, con la misma cifra en la etiqueta.

¿Qué tipos de colágeno son más importantes?

Existen más de 20 tipos, pero tres concentran casi toda la relevancia: el tipo I (piel, huesos y tendones), el tipo II (cartílago y articulaciones) y el tipo III (músculos y vasos). El tipo I es el más abundante del cuerpo.

¿En cuánto tiempo se notan resultados?

Alrededor de 6 semanas de uso diario constante, que es lo que tarda un ciclo de renovación. Ningún colágeno actúa en días, y sin proteína, vitamina C y protector solar el resultado es menor: cuidar el colágeno es proteger, alimentar y reforzar a la vez.

Diagrama explicativo sobre la importancia del colágeno para la salud integral del cuerpo humano

The importance of collagen for health

August 28, 2025

The importance of collagen for health is real and goes far beyond the marketing of creams and supplements: it is the most abundant protein in the human body and it supports the skin, the bones, the muscles and the connective tissues.

Here we explain what it does exactly, what happens when it is lacking and how to care for it —including the detail almost nobody compares, which is how much collagen from a supplement really reaches your body.

What is collagen and why does it matter so much?

Collagen is a structural protein that works as the body's natural glue. It represents approximately 25% of all the proteins in the body and is present in the skin, the cartilage, the ligaments, the tendons and the bones.

Types of collagen

There are more than 20 types, although three concentrate almost all the relevance:

Type I — predominant in skin, bones and tendons
Type II — essential for cartilage and joints
Type III — present in muscles, blood vessels and organs

Its main functions

Maintaining the firmness and elasticity of the skin
Protecting the joints
Supporting tissue regeneration and wound healing
Giving structure to bones and muscles

Health benefits

Although we usually associate it with the aesthetic, the importance of collagen goes far beyond “beautiful skin”.

Skin, hair and nails

It is the benefit with the most evidence. As time passes production decreases and wrinkles, sagging and loss of radiance appear. Consistent supplementation has been associated with improvements in skin elasticity and hydration.Read more in benefits of collagen for hair.

Joints and bones

It reinforces the cartilage and contributes to joint comfort. It also takes part in bone density.

Muscles and recovery

It forms part of the muscular connective tissue and supports repair after exercise.

Foods that support your collagen

Animal sources that DO contain collagen

Bone broth
Natural gelatin
Fish with skin and bones
Cuts with connective tissue

Watch out for a very widespread confusion: collagen is a protein exclusively of animal origin. No vegetable contains it. What plants provide are the nutrients your body uses to make its own.

Nutrients your body needs to produce it

Vitamin C — without it your body cannot synthesize collagen. Citrus, kiwi, guava, peppers
Zinc and copper — nuts, shellfish, seeds
Quality protein — lean meats, egg, legumes

More detail in what is vitamin C and what is it for?

Habits that destroy it

Smoking
Unprotected sun exposure — the most aggressive factor of all
Excess sugar
Chronic stress and poor sleep
Diets low in protein and antioxidants

The full breakdown is in what destroys collagen: 8 foods and habits.

Supplements: what is worth knowing

Hydrolyzed and absorption

Hydrolyzed collagen is broken down into small peptides the body can absorb. It is the standard form in supplements.

But the format decides how much really arrives. A traditional oral collagen —powder or capsule— has to cross the acid of the stomach, the digestive enzymes and the first pass through the liver: at the end of that journey around 25% is taken advantage of. The sublingual one is held under the tongue and passes directly into the bloodstream, with an estimated absorption of 80%: more than three times what your body takes advantage of from a pill, with the same figure printed on the label. And by the vaginal route, for intimate tissue, absorption reaches up to 99%.

Evidence and myths

With backing: improvement in skin elasticity, reduction of fine lines, joint support
Under research: digestive benefits
Myth: that it makes hair grow faster
Myth: that vegan collagen exists — what is sold as such are precursors, not collagen

Our collagens

The Liquid Collagen Boost — 150 mg of hydrolyzed collagen per 1.5 mL serving (30 drops), sublingual with hyaluronic acid, biotin and zinc. Up to 80% absorption, in seconds and without mixing anything. That combination of small peptides and the sublingual route, which lets them arrive protected in the blood, is the reason for the 80%, up to 3x a capsule.
The Ultimate Collagen Boost — vaginal application gel with up to 99% local absorption.
The Collagen Bundle — the two together.

See everything in Collagens. Each active by the route that corresponds to it.

What happens when collagen is lacking?

Early signs: premature wrinkles and sagging, joint stiffness, dry skin, brittle nails, slow wound healing.

In the long term: greater risk of joint injuries, loss of bone density and progressive deterioration of the connective tissues.

What collagen does NOT do

For honesty, and because having real expectations is what keeps people from quitting after three weeks:

It is not applied like a cream. Collagen is taken (sublingual) or applied to intimate tissue (vaginal). It does not penetrate the skin or the hair in topical form.
Vegan collagen does not exist. It is a protein of animal origin; what is vegan are the precursors that help make it.
It does not replace sunscreen, which is the factor that most protects your collagen.
It does not act in days. The realistic timeframe to notice changes is 6 weeks of consistent use.
It does not cure or treat diseases. It is a food supplement, not a medicine.

Frequently asked questions

At what age does production decrease?

From the age of 25–30, around 1% less each year. In women the drop accelerates markedly with menopause.

Is it only good for the skin?

No. It also acts on bones, joints, muscles and blood vessels.

Is it safe to take it every day?

It is generally well tolerated and does not require breaks. Even so, consult a professional before starting if you have any condition, take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How long until results are noticed?

Around six weeks of consistent daily use.

In summary: the importance of collagen for health

The importance of collagen for health lies in the fact that it holds your body's structure together, and its decline affects both the aesthetic and the functional. Caring for it has three parts: protecting the one you already have (sunscreen, less sugar, good sleep), feeding its production (protein and vitamin C) and reinforcing it with a supplement that really is absorbed.

The Liquid Collagen Boost

Reinforce your collagen through the route that does take advantage of it: 80% absorption against 25% for a capsule, in seconds and without mixing.

See the product

About The Everyday Lab: learn about our story, absorption technology and media coverage on the press page.

This content is informational and does not replace medical consultation. Food supplements are not medicines and do not cure, treat or prevent diseases. Results may vary.

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