Short answer: no. Collagen is a protein found only in animals, so every collagen powder, tablet and gelatin is made from cattle, pigs, chickens or fish. If you are vegetarian, you can still help your body make its own collagen by eating enough protein and vitamin C every day.
Where collagen comes from
Collagen gives structure to skin, bone, tendon and cartilage in animals. Supplement makers extract it from cattle hide (bovine), pig skin (porcine), chicken cartilage, or fish skin and scales (marine), then break it into small peptides so it dissolves in water. Gelatin comes from the same sources. Plants do not make collagen at all.
What vegan collagen on a label usually means
Most products sold as vegan or plant collagen contain no collagen. They are blends of amino acids such as glycine, proline and lysine, often with vitamin C and plant extracts, and are better described as collagen builders. Collagen made by engineered yeast or bacteria exists, but it is still uncommon and costly. Read the ingredient list: if collagen peptides are not listed, the product has no collagen in it.
Which collagen fits which diet
| Diet | Collagen supplement that fits |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | None. Focus on food (see below) |
| Eggetarian | None of the common powders. Eggs supply protein your body can use |
| Pescatarian (eats fish) | Marine collagen |
| Eats chicken but not beef | Marine collagen, or chicken-sourced Type II |
| Eats all meat | Marine or bovine collagen |
How vegetarians can support their own collagen
Your body builds collagen from amino acids it gets from protein, and it needs vitamin C to finish the job. Zinc and copper also take part. A vegetarian Indian diet can cover all of these:
- Protein: dal, chana, rajma, soya chunks, paneer, curd and milk
- Vitamin C: amla, guava, lemon, orange, capsicum and tomato
- Zinc and copper: pumpkin seeds, cashews, sesame and whole grains
Getting enough total protein through the day matters more than any single food. Our list of foods that support collagen has Indian veg and non-veg options.
Habits that break collagen down count too: sun exposure without protection, smoking and short sleep. See 7 lifestyle habits that damage collagen.
A note on NewYou products
All NewYou collagen products contain animal-sourced collagen. Collagen Essentials, Collagen Active and Collagen Glow use marine collagen from fish. GlutaPop also contains marine collagen, and Multi Collagen tablets combine bovine, marine and eggshell sources. None of them are vegetarian. If you eat fish, marine vs bovine collagen explains the difference, and this comparison helps you pick one.
This article is general information, not medical advice. NewYou products are food supplements and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
