Anti-Aging · Codeage · Collagen Peptides · Hair Nails · Joint Support · Marine Collagen · Pharmacist Recommended · pillar-nutrition-supplements · pillar-pharmacist-product-guide · Skin Health ·Sep 07, 2026

Codeage® Wild-Caught Marine Collagen Peptides: The Pharmacist's Guide to Types 1 & 3 Collagen

Dai Tran, PharmD, MBA, B.S.

CEO & Lead Pharmacist, Khang Pharmacy • CA/MN/TX Licensed Pharmacist

Clinical Insights Series • APhA Immunization Certified • 10+ Years Clinical Experience

The Clinical Question

Does oral hydrolyzed marine (fish-derived) collagen peptide supplementation produce meaningful improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle appearance in humans — and how strong and reliable is that evidence?

Bottom Line Up Front

Human RCTs of fish-derived hydrolyzed collagen report improvements in selected measures of skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkles. However, the trials evaluated specific proprietary collagen preparations rather than Codeage® Wild-Caught Marine Collagen, and recent evidence raises concerns about study quality, heterogeneous formulations, and industry funding bias. These findings support biological plausibility and some clinical signals for marine collagen peptides but do not establish efficacy of this finished product.

Overall evidence rating: MODERATE / SUPPORTIVE, BUT QUALITY- AND FUNDING-LIMITED. Positive marine-collagen RCTs and earlier pooled analyses are tempered by the 2025 finding that apparent skin benefits were not demonstrated in non-industry-funded or higher-quality subsets. The 2026 umbrella review adds supportive class-level context but does not resolve those limitations or establish Codeage-specific efficacy.

What Is Marine Collagen?

Marine collagen is a structural protein derived from fish skin and scales, predominantly rich in Type 1 collagen — the primary collagen type in human skin, hair, and nails. It is enzymatically hydrolyzed into smaller peptides that can be absorbed after ingestion. Experimental studies suggest that certain collagen-derived peptides may reach peripheral tissues and influence fibroblast activity and extracellular-matrix signaling, although the precise mechanisms underlying clinical skin effects remain incompletely established.

Collagen production declines with age — beginning as early as the mid-20s and accelerating after 40 — contributing to skin thinning, wrinkle formation, and reduced elasticity. This is the biological rationale for collagen supplementation.

Marine vs. Bovine Collagen: What’s the Difference?

Marine collagen is predominantly Type 1 and has a lower average molecular weight than bovine-derived peptides, which has been proposed to enhance absorption. Whether this translates to superior clinical outcomes compared with bovine collagen has not been established by head-to-head human trials.
Bovine collagen supplements derived from hide are predominantly Types 1 and 3. Type 2 collagen is primarily associated with cartilage-derived preparations. Much of the broader collagen literature — including widely-cited skin RCTs using proprietary preparations such as VERISOL® — used bovine-derived collagen, not marine collagen. Those results should not be assumed equivalent to marine collagen.

Evidence Transfer Caveat: All studies cited below used specific proprietary collagen preparations (e.g., Vinh Wellness Collagen, low-molecular-weight fish collagen peptides, Pangasius fish skin collagen hydrolysate, Pure Gold Collagen®). These preparations are not equivalent to Codeage® Wild-Caught Marine Collagen. Clinical results from one collagen product cannot be assumed to apply directly to another.

What Human Studies Show

Evidence labels: HUMAN RCT = randomized, double- or triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial | OPEN-LABEL = no placebo control | SYSTEMATIC REVIEW / META-ANALYSIS = pooled analysis of multiple trials

Skin Elasticity

HUMAN RCT Evans et al., 2021 (PMID: 32799362): Randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial; n=50 women aged 45–60 (25 per group). Hydrolyzed marine collagen (Vinh Wellness Collagen) 10 g/day vs. placebo for 12 weeks. Significant within-group wrinkle reduction (35%) in the marine collagen group; between-group wrinkle reduction was greater on one side of the face vs. placebo. A planned age-subgroup analysis showed improvements in cheek elasticity. Note: Vinh Wellness Collagen is not equivalent to Codeage®; see the provenance discussion below.
HUMAN RCT Kim et al., 2018 (PMID: 29949889): Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=64). Fish collagen peptides, 1,000 mg/day for 12 weeks. Two of three elasticity parameters were significantly better in the collagen group vs. placebo at 12 weeks. Note: Fish-derived collagen peptides; not the same preparation as this product.
HUMAN RCT Lee et al., 2024 (PMID: 38854476): Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=85 randomized, 78 completed; ages 35–60 with photo-aged skin). Pangasius fish skin collagen hydrolysate, 1,000 mg/day for 12 weeks. Significant improvements in elasticity at 6 and 12 weeks vs. placebo. Note: Pangasius fish skin preparation; not the same preparation as this product.

Skin Hydration

HUMAN RCT Kim et al., 2018 (PMID: 29949889): Skin hydration was significantly higher in the fish collagen group vs. placebo at both 6 and 12 weeks.
HUMAN RCT Lee et al., 2024 (PMID: 38854476): Significant improvements in skin hydration and reduction in roughness at 6 and 12 weeks vs. placebo.

Wrinkles / Visible Skin Aging

HUMAN RCT Evans et al., 2021 (PMID: 32799362): Significant within-group wrinkle reduction (35%) in the marine collagen group at 12 weeks; greater between-group wrinkle reduction vs. placebo on one side of the face.
HUMAN RCT Kim et al., 2018 (PMID: 29949889): Wrinkle measures improved significantly in the fish collagen group at 12 weeks vs. placebo.
OPEN-LABEL Borumand & Sibilla, 2014 (PMID: 25342893): Open-label study (no placebo control) using a liquid marine collagen supplement (Pure Gold Collagen®). Reductions in wrinkle depth and improvements in skin hydration reported over 60 days. Interpret cautiously given the absence of a placebo control group and the product’s multi-ingredient formulation.

Broader Collagen Evidence: Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW / META-ANALYSIS de Miranda et al., 2021 (PMID: 33742704): 19 double-blind controlled trials, 1,125 participants (ages 20–70; 95% women). Pooled results favored hydrolyzed collagen for hydration, elasticity, and wrinkles.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW / META-ANALYSIS Pu et al., 2023 (PMID: 37432180): 26 RCTs, 1,721 participants. Statistically significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity across pooled trials. Subgroup analyses considered collagen source. Authors noted study quality variability and called for larger RCTs.

Important Evidence-Quality Counterpoint

CRITICAL APPRAISAL Myung & Park, 2025 (PMID: 40324552): 23 RCTs, 1,474 participants. Overall pooled results favored collagen for hydration, elasticity, and wrinkles. However, when analyses were restricted by funding source and study quality, the apparent benefits were not demonstrated in non-industry-funded or high-quality studies. The authors concluded that current evidence does not establish collagen supplementation for prevention or treatment of skin aging. This is an important counterweight to the positive pooled findings above.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW / META-ANALYSIS Ravindran et al., 2026 (PMID: 41809116): Umbrella review of 16 systematic reviews encompassing 113 RCTs and 7,983 participants. It reported broadly favorable findings for skin elasticity, hydration, and structural outcomes across collagen supplementation studies. This adds supportive class-level context, but it combines heterogeneous products, populations, and outcomes, includes musculoskeletal evidence outside this article’s scope, and does not establish efficacy of Codeage® or resolve the funding and study-quality concerns identified by Myung & Park.

Known Limitations in the Evidence Base

All individual RCTs cited used specific proprietary preparations — results cannot be assumed to apply to Codeage® Wild-Caught Marine Collagen or any other product
The 2025 meta-analysis (Myung & Park) found that apparent benefits were not sustained in non-industry-funded or high-quality trials, raising important concerns about publication bias and funding effects
The 2026 umbrella review is supportive at the class level but pools heterogeneous collagen sources, outcomes, and study designs; it should not be treated as product-specific evidence
Individual marine/fish collagen RCTs are typically short (8–12 weeks) and use varying doses (1,000–10,000 mg/day); long-term outcomes are not well established
Direct comparative trials between marine and bovine collagen preparations have not been conducted
No evidence is cited for joint, bone, or muscle outcomes in this article, because this review is intentionally focused on marine collagen and skin outcomes

Funding, Product Provenance & Conflicts of Interest

Funding and product provenance matter here because the 2025 meta-analysis found that apparent collagen benefits changed when analyses were restricted by funding source and study quality. The four marine/fish-specific studies included in this review report the following relationships:

Evans et al., 2021: The investigational product was Vinh Wellness Collagen from Vinh Hoan Corporation, derived from Pangasius fish. The authors were affiliated with KGK Science Inc. The published record identifies Vinh Hoan Corporation in the article copyright and product provenance information; a separate funding or conflict statement is not clearly presented in the article text reviewed here. This should not be treated as an independent, product-agnostic replication.
Kim et al., 2018: Authors included employees of Newtree, and the article reported that the study received no external funding and that the authors and Newtree declared no conflict of interest. The company affiliation remains relevant when interpreting the study.
Lee et al., 2024: The study was fully supported by Amicogen Inc.; five authors were employed by Amicogen, and the authors reported that the funder was involved in study design. This is important industry involvement, even though the trial was randomized and placebo-controlled.
Borumand & Sibilla, 2014: The open-label Pure Gold Collagen® study was funded by Minerva Research Labs Ltd.; the authors reported no other conflicts of interest. The product was a multi-ingredient formulation, so the findings cannot be attributed to collagen alone.

These disclosures do not automatically invalidate the studies. They do mean that the positive findings should be interpreted as supportive but uncertain rather than as definitive, independent proof.

Safety & Drug Interactions

Allergens: Marine collagen is derived from fish. Not suitable for individuals with a known fish allergy.
Generally well-tolerated: No significant adverse effects reported in published clinical trials. Kim et al. (2018) specifically noted no supplement-related adverse symptoms.
Drug interactions: No well-established clinically significant drug interactions have been identified for hydrolyzed collagen peptides, although formal drug-interaction data are limited.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an essential cofactor in normal collagen synthesis, and adequate dietary vitamin C is therefore important. However, most published collagen-peptide trials were conducted without supplemental vitamin C co-intervention — supplemental vitamin C has not been established as necessary for obtaining the outcomes reported in those studies.

About Codeage® Wild-Caught Marine Collagen

Codeage® Wild-Caught Marine Collagen provides 9 g of hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides per serving and is marketed by the manufacturer as containing Types 1 & 3 collagen. It is sourced from wild-caught fish; the powder is unflavored and odorless, providing 50 servings per container. Clinical results from the proprietary collagen preparations reviewed in this article should not be assumed to apply directly to this finished product.

Who Should Consider Marine Collagen Peptides?

Adults seeking support for skin hydration, elasticity, or visible signs of aging, with the understanding that the evidence base reflects specific proprietary preparations and that a 2025 meta-analysis raised concerns about study quality
Individuals who prefer a fish-derived over bovine-derived collagen source
Those seeking an unflavored, easily mixed protein supplement with a collagen peptide base
Not appropriate for: individuals with a known fish allergy

Pharmacist’s Interpretation

As a PharmD, I discuss marine collagen peptides as having biological plausibility and moderate, supportive evidence for selected skin outcomes — but the evidence is quality- and funding-limited. Three marine/fish-specific RCTs show improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkles at doses of 1,000–10,000 mg/day over 8–12 weeks, while the open-label study is weaker and used a multi-ingredient product. The broader meta-analytic literature is supportive, and the 2026 umbrella review adds class-level context, but the 2025 analysis found that effects diminish in non-industry-funded, high-quality trials. I do not represent the published evidence as proof that Codeage® Wild-Caught Marine Collagen specifically will produce these outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to see results?
A: In the fish/marine collagen RCTs reviewed here, significant improvements in hydration and elasticity were observed at 6 and 12 weeks at doses of 1,000 mg/day. These timelines reflect the specific preparations studied, not necessarily this product.

Q: Is marine collagen better than bovine for skin?
A: Marine collagen is predominantly Type 1, which is the primary structural collagen in skin. However, direct head-to-head trials comparing marine and bovine collagen for skin outcomes have not been conducted. The widely-cited VERISOL® skin elasticity RCT used bovine-derived collagen — we do not cite it in this article because it is outside the scope of this marine-collagen-focused review.

Q: Do I need extra Vitamin C with this?
A: Adequate dietary vitamin C is important for normal collagen synthesis. However, most published collagen-peptide trials did not include supplemental vitamin C, so it has not been established as required to achieve the outcomes reported in those studies.

Q: Can I take this if I have a fish allergy?
A: No. Marine collagen is derived from fish skin and scales and is not appropriate for individuals with a known fish allergy. Please consult your pharmacist for an alternative.

Q: Does the published evidence prove this product works?
A: No. The studies cited used specific proprietary collagen preparations that are not the same as this product. The evidence supports biological plausibility and clinical signals for marine collagen peptides as a class, but efficacy of this specific finished product has not been independently established.

Selected Key Studies

Evidence labels: HUMAN RCT | OPEN-LABEL | SYSTEMATIC REVIEW / META-ANALYSIS | CRITICAL APPRAISAL

HUMAN RCT Evans M, Lewis ED, Zakaria N, Pelipyagina T, Guthrie N. A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study to evaluate the efficacy of a freshwater marine collagen on skin wrinkles and elasticity. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(3):825–834. DOI: 10.1111/jocd.13676. PMID: 32799362.
n=50 women aged 45–60; Vinh Wellness Collagen, 10 g/day vs. placebo for 12 weeks; reported wrinkle and selected elasticity findings. Product was from Vinh Hoan Corporation and authors were affiliated with KGK Science Inc.; separate funding/COI reporting is not clearly presented in the article text reviewed. Not equivalent to Codeage®.
HUMAN RCT Kim DU, Chung HC, Choi J, Sakai Y, Lee BY. Oral Intake of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Improves Hydration, Elasticity, and Wrinkling in Human Skin: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2018;10(7):826. DOI: 10.3390/nu10070826. PMID: 29949889.
n=64; fish collagen peptides, 1,000 mg/day vs. placebo for 12 weeks; reported improvements in hydration, wrinkles, and two of three elasticity parameters. The article reported no external funding and no declared conflict, but authors included Newtree employees.
HUMAN RCT Lee JS, Yoon YC, Kim JM, Kim YH, Kang YH, Shin YC. Liquid collagen from freshwater fish skin ameliorates hydration, roughness and elasticity in photo-aged skin: a randomized, controlled, clinical study. Nutr Res Pract. 2024;18(3):357–371. DOI: 10.4162/nrp.2024.18.3.357. PMID: 38854476.
n=85 randomized (78 completed); Pangasius fish skin collagen hydrolysate, 1,000 mg/day vs. placebo for 12 weeks; reported improvements in hydration, roughness, and elasticity. The study was fully supported by Amicogen Inc.; five authors were Amicogen employees and the funder was involved in study design.
OPEN-LABEL Borumand M, Sibilla S. Daily consumption of the collagen supplement Pure Gold Collagen® reduces visible signs of aging. Clin Interv Aging. 2014;9:1747–1758. DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S65939. PMID: 25342893.
Open-label, no placebo control; multi-ingredient Pure Gold Collagen® supplement; reported reductions in wrinkle depth and improvements in skin hydration over 60 days. Funded by Minerva Research Labs Ltd.; authors reported no other conflicts. Supporting evidence only.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW / META-ANALYSIS de Miranda RB, Weimer P, Rossi RC. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2021;60(12):1449–1461. DOI: 10.1111/ijd.15518. PMID: 33742704.
19 double-blind controlled trials and 1,125 participants; pooled results favored hydrolyzed collagen for hydration, elasticity, and wrinkles. Interpret in light of heterogeneity and the later funding/quality critique.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW / META-ANALYSIS Pu SY, Huang YL, Pu CM, Kang YN, Hoang KD, Chen KH, Chen C. Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2080. DOI: 10.3390/nu15092080. PMID: 37432180.
26 RCTs and 1,721 participants; pooled improvements in hydration and elasticity, with subgroup analyses by collagen source. Authors noted study-quality variability and called for larger RCTs.
CRITICAL APPRAISAL Myung SK, Park Y. Effects of Collagen Supplements on Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Med. 2025;138(9):1264–1277. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2025.04.034. PMID: 40324552.
23 RCTs and 1,474 participants; overall pooled results favored collagen, but apparent benefits were not demonstrated in non-industry-funded or high-quality studies. Authors concluded current evidence does not establish collagen supplementation for prevention or treatment of skin aging.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW / META-ANALYSIS Ravindran R, Pizzol D, López-Gil JF, Rahmati M, Boyer L, Fond G, Butler L, Stellato A, Gawronska J, Barnett Y, Keyes H, Soysal P, Eren R, Onal B, Yon DK, Smith L. Collagen Supplementation for Skin and Musculoskeletal Health: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses on Elasticity, Hydration, and Structural Outcomes. Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2026;8:ojag018. DOI: 10.1093/asjof/ojag018. PMID: 41809116.
Umbrella review of 16 systematic reviews encompassing 113 RCTs and 7,983 participants; broadly favorable class-level findings for skin and musculoskeletal outcomes. Supportive synthesis, not Codeage-specific evidence, and it does not resolve heterogeneity or the funding/quality concerns highlighted by Myung & Park.

FDA Disclaimer

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Reviewed by:

Dai Tran, PharmD, MBA, B.S. • View full bio →