What’s the Difference Between Collagen and Colostrum?
When it comes to supplements that support glowing skin, resilient joints, and overall vitality, collagen has been the go-to in the wellness world for years. But recently, another powerhouse is taking the stage: bovine colostrum.
Both colostrum and collagen can play a role in how your body looks, feels, and recovers but they work in very different ways. Let’s break it down.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, acting as the building blocks for your skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones. But as we age, collagen production naturally slows down.
That’s why many people supplement with collagen powders or capsules, since they provide an external source of collagen peptides for their diet. These peptides don’t become collagen automatically, but instead provide raw building blocks your body can use to support connective tissue and skin elasticity.
We’re big fans of collagen (have you heard about our Bioactive Collagen?) but we’re here to share a lot more about it!
What is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the first form of milk produced by mammals after giving birth, rich in immune factors, growth factors, and bioactive molecules. Unlike collagen, which only supplies the building blocks, colostrum acts more like a director to create natural collagen in your body.
Colostrum provides growth factors like IGF-1 and TGF-β, which actually signal your body to:
- Ramp up protein synthesis
- Repair muscle fibers
- Strengthen connective tissue
- Stimulate your body’s own natural collagen production
And here’s where another powerful compound steps in: lactoferrin.
Lactoferrin, which is found abundantly in colostrum, has been shown to stimulate fibroblast activity.
Q: What is Fiboblast activity?
A: The cells in your skin and connective tissue responsible for building collagen and elastin.
By increasing fibroblast proliferation and activity, lactoferrin indirectly boosts your body’s natural collagen output. This leads to stronger skin, faster healing, and improved tissue resilience.
In case you read that and wondered where our Founder Rob got so smart, here’s a breakdown of what that means:
Lactoferrin helps your body make more collagen - which strengthens skin, speeds up healing, and improves tissue health.
Do You Need Both Collagen and Colostrum?
Collagen and colostrum aren’t competitors, they’re complements. Collagen provides the raw material, while colostrum tells your body how to use it better and activates the very cells that make collagen.
- For surface-level beauty and joint support, collagen works well.
- For deep repair, gut health, immunity, and fibroblast-driven collagen production, colostrum is the smarter choice.
Which is why our Bioactive Collagen Peptides product is the rockstar in this field: We combined Collagen with Colostrum, so the colostrum can actually tell your body what to do with the collagen. We love it, and hope you do too. Here's what some of our customers have said about it:
"I'm on my 4th bottle and noticed a huge difference in my hair and nail health. My kids are in daycare and I've been far more resilient to the colds they bring home." - Krystina R.
"We drink this product in our coffee every morning. It dissolves easily, and there is no strong taste. Love it! Better skin, better joints, better hair!" - Rhonda T.
The Bottom Line
Collagen has earned its spot as a beauty and joint supplement. But colostrum goes deeper: It works at the root to stimulate natural collagen through growth factors and lactoferrin, repair tissue, strengthen the gut, and support your immune system.
Check out our Bioactive Collagen Peptides. This all-star product combines Grass-Fed, Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides with Whole Colostrum to get the best of both worlds!
Try Bioactive Collagen Peptides
With gratitude,
Rob Diepersloot
Founder, WonderCow Nutrition