Collagen Tri-peptide
A more finely broken-down collagen fraction, rich in three-amino-acid peptides that are measurably absorbed into the bloodstream.
Absorption is well demonstrated; no head-to-head trial yet shows tripeptides beat ordinary collagen peptides on skin outcomes.
On the label: Collagen Tripeptide. Also known as Pro-Hyp, Hyp-Gly, Gly-Pro-Hyp, CTP.
What it does for you
Included to strengthen the signal per gram rather than to add a separate benefit. Trials report better water retention in skin.
Why we use it
Tripeptides are the fraction shown to survive digestion and turn up in blood. Adding a focused 300 mg alongside the 5 g base is about the quality of the signal, not the total gram count.
Mechanism
Peptides such as Pro-Hyp and Gly-Pro-Hyp resist further breakdown in the gut and are detectable in human blood after a dose. The proposal is that a higher circulating level of these specific peptides gives a stronger message to skin cells.
Use level
300 mg per daily stick in VitalBuild Daily Collagen Powder. Trials use 1 to 3 g/day over 12 weeks.
What the studies say
Significantly greater reduction in transepidermal water loss versus placebo at 12 weeks, robust to climate adjustment. Hydration improvements more pronounced in the treatment group.
- Human in vivo
- n = 84 randomized, 74 completed, women aged 40-60
- 12 weeks
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 1,000 mg/day collagen tripeptide, adjusted for temperature, humidity and UVA
Effect of Collagen Tripeptide and Adjusting for Climate Change on Skin Hydration in Middle-Aged Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Lee SY, Tak YJ, Shin DK, Kim AH, Kim JI, Lee YL, Ko HC, Kim YW. Frontiers in Medicine, 2021. DOI 10.3389/fmed.2020.608903
Three authors employed by Amicogen Inc., the manufacturer.
Significant improvement in hydration and elasticity versus control. Notably, concomitant intake of low-dose vitamin C did NOT enhance the effect.
- Human in vivo
- n = 32
- 12 weeks
Four arms: no treatment; 3 g collagen peptide; 3 g plus 500 mg vitamin C; vitamin C alone
Effects of collagen tripeptide supplement on skin properties: a prospective, randomized, controlled study Choi SY, Ko EJ, Lee YH, et al.. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2014. DOI 10.3109/14764172.2013.854119
Small sample. The vitamin C finding is directly relevant to any claim that pairing vitamin C with collagen improves outcomes.