MoriKol, a naturally derived, marine-based tripeptide collagen ingredient from kosher, warm-water fish has made its debut in the US.
 
The ingredient is positioned as a clean-label, consumer friendly alternative to bovine and porcine collagen. Through a pioneering licensing deal, Dolcas makes this uniquely efficacious “beauty-from-within” ingredient available to U.S. consumers at a low, clinically supported daily dose of just 1 g.
 
MoriKol’s proprietary processing method results in a flavorless, odorless, highly pure product that is water- and temperature-stable for use in diverse applications. Unlike traditional collagen ingredients, MoriKol’s small, freely absorbable collagen peptides are of very low molecular weight (a 15% tripeptide standard), which allows for a low dosing of the ingredient. Coupled with its convenient capsule delivery format that does not exist in other collagens on the market, MoriKol is a highly bioavailable, more bioactive collagen, the company claimed.
 
“Collagen is the most abundant protein type in the human body,” said Shavon Jackson-Michel, ND, director of medical and scientific affairs at DolCas. “Supplemental collagen’s potential whole-body application, including ‘beauty from within,’ joint health, sports performance, and cardiovascular and digestive system support is far-reaching.”
 
Even as popularity of hydrolyzed collagen products has grown at an impressive scale, a 2019 report by the Grand View Research firm noted that the convention of low bioavailability land animal-sourced collagen—with acknowledged risks of transmittable diseases like Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow Disease, and Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)—still prevail over more appealing marine sources because of the cost differential. MoriKol closes that differential with its unique beauty-from-within collagen preparation that delivers a concentrated dose of highly absorbable peptides.
 
The Tripeptide Advantage
The novel processing of MoriKol delivers a minimum of 15% of readily utilizable forms of peptides that are absorbed intact. MoriKol also guarantees the delivery of the specific amino acid sequence integral to collagen’s structure, glycine-proline-hydroxyproline (GPH), and showing 3% GPH on assay.
 
“This is a completely novel ingredient,” said Jackson-Michel. “No U.S.-marketed fish collagen has quantified collagen actives at this level of specificity. Many commercially available collagen hydrolysates require doses between 2.5-10 g/day, but offer negligible quantities of bioavailable peptides. Bi- and tripeptides are the smallest absorbable units of collagen, and when provided in a finite amount, provide greater potential for restorative functions, including fibroblast recruitment to damaged areas and collagen formation from bioavailable building blocks.”
“MoriKol’s low dosing avails itself to compact, convenient delivery forms, such as capsules or gummies, and not just powders,” Jackson-Michel concluded.
 
A Warm-Water Edge
“Piscine-sourced collagen products are known for their smaller molecular weights compared to porcine and bovine sources, but even with fish, warm water-sourced marine collagen is believed to have better biocompatibility than cold water options such as salmon and cod, delivering higher levels of the amino acids proline and hydroxyproline—the two essential building blocks of collagen,” said Jackson-Michel.
 
MoriKol’s controlled manufacturing produces a consistent product that is held to rigorous breeding, cultivation, and processing standards. MoriKol’s high purity is supported by its clearance of 40+ veterinarian and piscine-specific drug tests, including those for antibiotics, dioxins, PCBs and hormones. MoriKol’s quality further extends to a low heavy metal profile, meeting stringent Prop-65 specifications.