Best marine collagen: a doctor’s opinion (2025)

Marine collagen is attracting growing interest for its qualities and effectiveness. But it’s not always easy to make the right choice. Géraldine Dubois, MD, tested, compared, and ranked 9 marine collagens.

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My selection

# Best marine collagen for skin 🥇
> Beautiful Skin Collagen – Twenty DC

# Best marine collagen powder
> Marine Collagen – Nutri&Co

# Best marine collagen in capsules
> Marine Collagen – Novoma

# Best marine collagen for joints
> Articular Marine Collagen – Valebio

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Discoveries about marine collagen have been growing rapidly in recent decades¹. Fish has emerged as an optimal source for collagen extraction, both safe and sustainable.

The composition of marine collagen varies depending on aquatic species, but it shows strong similarities to collagen from mammals. Many research teams are studying the benefits of collagen, and applications in the fields of health and cosmetics are proliferating. 

Studies specifically using marine collagen taken orally have shown improved elasticity and reduced wrinkles², as well as benefits in skin repair processes³. 

Marine collagen products are multiplying on the market, so it’s easy to get lost in the labels, with prices ranging from one to three times as much. The goal of this comparison is to help you see things more clearly thanks to an objective rating for each supplement.

We evaluate all supplements independently. If you click one of the links provided, we may receive a commission, which does not affect the price or the ranking.

Methodology

I analyzed 9 of the best-selling marine collagen supplements online.

I rated and compared them according to 5 criteria, then created a ranking. For each product, I wrote a description and highlighted the pros and cons.

→ Access my full comparison table here (Google Sheet)

Best marine collagen: my opinion

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#1: Marine Collagen Nutri&Co: the best in powder form

Nutri&co is a French brand created in 2017 and based in Aix-en-Provence. The company, founded by Édouard Fornas, has established a strong position in the nutraceutical market in recent years.

This powder format is made of marine collagen from controlled fishing sources. Several flavors are offered : peach, cucumber-mint, and cocoa. 

The daily dose recommended by the brand contains 5.5 g of patented collagen of 2 types : 5 g of type I (HMG®) and 500 mg of type II (Cartidyss®). These collagens are of low molecular weight and considered high quality. It also contains 24 mg of vitamin C per dose.

The powder dissolves easily, and the subtle peach flavor of the tested product is pleasant, with no fishy aftertaste. 

 The price of €24.90 for a one-month supply puts it mid-range in the selection.

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#2: Novoma marine collagen: the best in capsule form

Novoma is a French brand founded in 2012. It offers a wide range of dietary supplements. 

The marine collagen tested comes in capsule form with a recommended dose of 3 capsules per day, that is 1 g of collagen. It is composed of two types of low molecular weight collagen (I and III), patented as Naticol®, extracted from wild fish and bearing a sustainable fishing label.

Intended for beauty benefits, the capsules are enriched with a blend of vitamins, zinc, and hyaluronic acid (100 mg per 3 capsules).

A one-month course costs less than €20, a reasonable price compared to other brands. A little bonus for the environment: the bottle is made of recycled and recyclable plastic.

For a version more concentrated in collagen (but combined only with vitamin C), Novoma offers a marine collagen powder recommended at a dose of 10 g per day.

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#3: Valebio joint-support marine collagen: the best for joints

Founded in 2015, Valebio is a French nutraceutical brand. The brand emphasizes quality, expertise, and respect for the environment.

The tested marine collagen formula is marketed for joint support and also contains other active substances: vitamin C, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), GAG (glycosaminoglycans), horsetail, and nettle. Their combined properties have a regenerative and anti-inflammatory effect on the joints. 

It includes the three types of collagen most common in the human body: I, II, and III. The manufacturer is Naticol®, which has a good reputation. The marine collagen peptides are derived from a gentle hydrolysis process.

I note that the mixture forms clumps and needs to be stirred well for them to disappear. The tangy taste is fairly subtle and pleasant, but I still notice a slight fishy aftertaste at the end.

The one-month regimen costs €67.35, which is a considerable expense.

Note that Valebio offers other marine collagen formulas for different indications (anti-aging and absolute).

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#4: Twenty DC skin-beautifying collagen: the best for skin

Twenty DC is a recent brand (2021) specifically focused on collagen. The tested version targets skin beauty.

This unflavored formula is composed of only 2 active ingredients: marine collagen and a small amount of collagen extracted from eggshell membrane (Ovoderm®). 

In the absence of clear information on the website and on the product label, I reached out to customer service. I was told that Twenty DC selects manufacturers producing high-quality marine collagen that is subjected to extensive testing.

There are also 2 flavored versions (peach tea and tropical), but I find that these formulas contain too many additives and sweeteners.

The brand recommends taking 10 g of collagen per day (98.5% of the dose is marine collagen). The smell in the jar is not very pleasant. However, the taste is truly neutral. The powder takes a little time to dissolve completely.

The one-month course costs €52.90, which is quite expensive.

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Complete comparison

Rang	Marque	NOTE	Nutrition	Sécurité	Plaisir	Marque	Packaging
#1	Nutri&co	4.4	4	5	4	5	4
#2	Novoma	4.0	3	5	x	4	4
#3	Valebio	4.0	4	4	4	4	4
#4	Twenty DC	3.8	4	4	4	3	4
#5	Biocyte (pharma)	3.6	3	3	4	4	4
#6	Vital Proteins	3.6	4	3	4	3	4
#7	Nutrimea	3.5	3	4	x	3	4
#8	Terravita	3.4	4	4	3	3	3
#9	Juvamine (pharma)	2.2	1	1	4	2	3

→ Access my full comparison table here (Google Sheet)

Selection criteria

1. Nutritional value

The type of collagen

Type I, II, and III collagen correspond to the main forms found in the tissues of the human body.

Our entire selection contains at least type I collagen, which is abundant in fish skin⁶.

Some supplements also contain a proportion of type II collagen, mainly derived from cartilage and bones, or type III, which also comes from skin.

Molecular weight and bioavailability

For collagen to be properly used by the body, it must be ingested in a fragmented form. To achieve this, the process that cuts it into small pieces is called hydrolysis. This results in a format called collagen peptides, characterized by their size in daltons (or molecular weight). In short, the lower the molecular weight, the better these peptides are absorbed.

Manufacturer’s patent

The hydrolysis method must be gentle enough and without harmful solvents to preserve all the qualities of collagen peptides. Manufacturers specializing in marine collagen extraction must guarantee the process with a patent. Several quality labels are well-known, including Naticol®, Collyss®, Cartidyss®, and Verisol®.

Other active ingredients

The selected collagen formulas are combined with other complementary substances. I have noted their presence and their type.

2. Safety

Regarding the safety of the different marine collagens tested, I considered:

Origin of the fish

It is important to ensure the source of the raw material (the fish) from which the collagen is extracted. 

Some brands don’t always disclose it. I contacted the customer service of some of them to get clarification, since the information was sometimes unclear.

The presence of additives and sweeteners

I analyzed the ingredient list of each product to identify the presence of additives that can compromise a product’s quality. This is the case, for example, with anti-caking agents (magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide), colorings, or certain artificial flavors. This is an important aspect to consider. 

3. Enjoyment

Of the 10 marine collagens in the selection, 8 are in powder form and 2 in capsules. Only the powders were tested, as the capsule version does not impart any particular taste.

Solubility

To test the powdered collagens, I mixed the brand’s recommended dose into 200 ml of cold water. I observed how well and how quickly it dissolved to achieve a uniform mixture and noted whether there were lumps.

Taste 

I evaluated the product’s texture when tasting, its smell, and the possible presence of a fishy taste.

4. Brand reputation

To assess the brand’s reputation, I took into account the company’s longevity as well as the size of its community on Instagram. 

In addition, I looked at user feedback on Amazon (when the products were available on that platform) and on review sites such as Trustpilot or Avis Vérifiés.

5. Packaging

I assessed the practicality of handling powdered collagen products, including aspects such as how the box or sachet closes, as well as the presence or absence of a measuring scoop.

I also took into consideration the container design and how the information is displayed on the label. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

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References

1. Salvatore L, Gallo N, Natali ML, et al. Marine collagen and its derivatives: Versatile and sustainable bio-resources for healthcare. Mater Sci Eng C. 2020;113:110963. 

2. Lee M, Kim E, Ahn H, Son S, Lee H. Oral intake of collagen peptide NS improves hydration, elasticity, desquamation, and wrinkling in human skin: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Food Funct. 2023;14(7):3196-3207.

3. Yang F, Zhao D, Zhang K, et al. Oral delivery of marine shellfish supramolecule peptides for skin wound healing. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2022;216:112592.

4. Khatri M, Naughton RJ, Clifford T, Harper LD, Corr L. The effects of collagen peptide supplementation on body composition, collagen synthesis, and recovery from joint injury and exercise: a systematic review. Amino Acids. 2021;53(10):1493-1506.

5. Lim YS, Ok YJ, Hwang SY, Kwak JY, Yoon S. Marine Collagen as A Promising Biomaterial for Biomedical Applications. Mar Drugs. 2019;17(8):467.

6. León-López A, Morales-Peñaloza A, Martínez-Juárez VM, Vargas-Torres A, Zeugolis DI, Aguirre-Álvarez G. Hydrolyzed Collagen—Sources and Applications. Molecules. 2019;24(22):4031. 

7. Choi FD, Sung CT, Juhasz MLW, Mesinkovsk NA. Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications. J Drugs Dermatol JDD. 2019;18(1):9-16.

8. Bhagwat PK, Dandge PB. Isolation, characterization and valorizable applications of fish scale collagen in food and agriculture industries. Biocatal Agric Biotechnol. 2016;7:234-240.

9. Coppola D, Oliviero M, Vitale GA, et al. Marine Collagen from Alternative and Sustainable Sources: Extraction, Processing and Applications. Mar Drugs. 2020;18(4):214.