Marine Collagen Peptides as Antioxidants: Which Sea Creatures and Extraction Methods Produce the Best Results?

This review catalogues the antioxidant properties of collagen peptides derived from marine sources including fish (skin, bones, scales, fins, cartilage), jellyfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and sponges. The authors found that specific amino acid sequences in marine collagen hydrolysates demonstrate significant antioxidant activity, and that the extraction method used to break down collagen into peptides affects which antioxidant properties are preserved. Marine collagen peptides from both vertebrate and invertebrate sources showed potential as natural antioxidant nutraceuticals.

The authors conducted a literature review analyzing published data on marine collagen peptides with antioxidant properties. They systematized information on extraction methods (enzymatic hydrolysis and other treatments), structural characteristics of the resulting peptides, and their measured antioxidant activities across different marine species — both vertebrate (fish) and invertebrate (jellyfish, mollusks, crustaceans, sponges).

The marine collagen peptide market is booming as a supplement category, and most consumers don't know where the collagen comes from or how it's processed. This review organizes the scientific evidence behind marine collagen's antioxidant claims, identifying which marine sources and extraction methods produce the most bioactive peptides. It also highlights an environmental angle — using fish processing waste (skin, scales, bones) as a source of valuable bioactive peptides rather than discarding it.

The global collagen supplement market is worth billions, and marine collagen is the fastest-growing segment — driven by demand from consumers who want alternatives to bovine or porcine sources (for religious, dietary, or sustainability reasons). This review provides scientific grounding for the antioxidant claims often made about marine collagen products, while also connecting to the broader sustainability conversation about using seafood processing waste as a source of valuable biomolecules.

This is a review of primarily in vitro (lab-based) antioxidant measurements. Antioxidant activity in a test tube doesn't necessarily translate to health benefits in the human body. The review doesn't systematically evaluate human clinical trial evidence for health outcomes. Extraction methods and collagen sources vary enormously, making direct comparisons difficult.