The “Beauty” Protein

Hydrolyzed collagen contains 19 amino acids in peptide form; predominantly glycine, proline and hydroxyproline. These three amino acids are the key to giving your skin and connective tissues elasticity. Glycine, specifically, is beneficial for numerous antiaging benefits in the body as its abundance acts as a protector for multiple age-sensitive systems. It is highly regarded as the “beauty protein” and has even been linked to improved memory and lifespan extension.

Read: Collagen v. Collagen Boosters

Hydroxyproline peptides are not completely digested to free amino acids, and can be detected in the blood. This enables them to stimulate cells in the skin, joints and bones, and produce more collagen activation and growth throughout the body. Hydroxyproline has also been shown to protect body cells against glycation, which linked to premature aging.

Amino Acid Profile of Fish Collagen

Typical value Amino Acids g/100g protein:

Glycine 29.24


Alanine 10.85


Hydroxyproline 7.02


Proline 12.19


Valine 2.37


Leucine 2.93


Isoleucine 1.65


Serine 7.44


Threonine 3.06


Aspartic acid 7.44


Glutamic acid 11.98


Methionine 1.67


Cystine <0.006


Tyrosine 0.77


Phenylalanine 2.12


Histidine 1.42


Arginine 9.77


Lysine 4.28


Ornithine <0.05


Tryptophane 0.06


Cites and References

Razak, Meerza Abdul et al. “Multifarious Beneficial Effect of Nonessential Amino Acid, Glycine: A Review.” Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2017 (2017): 1716701. PMC. Web. 16 Aug. 2018.

Biochemistry/Molecular Biology The FASEB Journal. Dietary glycine supplementation mimics lifespan extension by dietary methionine restriction in Fisher 344 rats. Joel Brind, Virginia Malloy, Ines Augie, Nicholas Caliendo, Joseph H Vogelman, Jay A. Zimmerman, and Norman Orentreich

Rajagopal V Sekhar, Sanjeet G Patel, Anuradha P Guthikonda, Marvin Reid, Ashok Balasubramanyam, George E Taffet, Farook Jahoor; Deficient synthesis of glutathione underlies oxidative stress in aging and can be corrected by dietary cysteine and glycine supplementation–, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 94, Issue 3, 1 September 2011, Pages 847–853, https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.110.003483

Beneficial Effects of Glycine (Bioglycin) on Memory and Attention in Young and Middle-Aged Adults File, Sandra E. BSc, PhD, DSc; Fluck, Emma BSc, PhD; Fernandes, Cathy BSc, PhD. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology: December 1999 – Volume 19 – Issue 6 – p 506-512

Advanced glycation in d-galactose induced mouse aging model. Department of Laboratories, North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA. 22 March 1999