The truth about collagen
Collagen is everywhere – beauty powders, supplements, bars, and drinks – and New Zealand might be about to change the game with the world’s first most complete collagen, thanks to sheepskin.
First, what is all the hype about collagen? Why is it suddenly in everything from snack bars to skin cream? Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and the primary building block for your skin, muscles, bone, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues. It’s also in your organs, blood vessels and intestinal lining. In other words, it’s important. It keeps your skin smooth and your muscles strong.
As we hit our mid-twenties, production of collagen begins to decline for everyone, and this accelerates over time. Women experience a significant reduction after menopause. Lack of it means wrinkled skin, joint pain, loss of mobility, digestive issues, weakening muscles, and blood flow problems. To compensate, collagen supplementation has become a booming $9.6 billion global industry for prolonging life and health. Tech billionaire Bryan Johnson, of the Netflix documentary Don’t Die: The man who wants to live forever, takes 25g of collagen peptides daily.
There are, though, questions and controversies around the collagen craze. Some collagen products are inferior and have serious environmental impacts, says Dr. Rob Kelly from Christchurch-based biotech company Tertiary Extracts Ōtautahi. That’s the business behind Ovitage, the world’s first ovine (sheepskin-derived) collagen and the main ingredient in the Everee Women range of protein and collagen powder supplement products.
“Some collagens, bovine being the main one, are often sourced from factory-farmed cows growing on clear-felled Amazonian rainforests so there are significant environmental issues with the sourcing of it, and societal issues as well,” Dr. Rob says.
New Zealand, with its ethical farming and traceable production systems, is only just entering the collagen market. Ovitage collagen is created using a patented process that extracts proteins from New Zealand sheepskin, a waste product of the agricultural industry.
“Ovitage is the world’s most complete collagen,” Dr. Rob says. “Unlike conventional bovine or marine collagen, Ovitage has a broader and more effective amino acid profile. Conventional collagen is a relatively poor source of branched-chain amino acids. Ovitage has a greater proportion… [which] are what you need to build lean body mass.”
The ovine collagen also contains amino acids like cysteine, tyrosine, and glutamic acid, which are absent or minimal in most collagen supplements, he says.
“Cysteine is not usually present at all in conventional collagen. It’s crucial in hair, skin and nail health… and also really important in anti-inflammatory pathways. Tyrosine boosts dopamine levels in the brain, and glutamic acid supports brain function.”
With science, sustainability, and bioavailability on its side, Ovitage could be a game-changer. The Everee Women product range is how New Zealanders can experience these benefits.
