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The benefits of collagen for bones, joints, hair, skin, and the heart are undeniable. That's why athletes, and active men and women over the age of 25, are looking for the most suitable supplement to add to their diet. Here's what the Bulgarian market has to offer.
What matters when choosing collagen?
Collagen is available as a powder, in liquid form, pure or enriched with vitamins and minerals, in capsules, in single doses, and in a box/pack with doses for at least about 1 month. You can find bovine, porcine, keto, vegan, and fish collagen both online and in physical stores.
Each type has its own advantages and drawbacks, but what matters more is knowing what you need and taking collagen regularly so you can feel relief, become more mobile and stronger, and strengthen your skin and hair. Of course, price matters when it comes to quality, but it's also advisable to choose a supplement that fits your lifestyle and diet.
If you're shopping for the first time, read the label carefully and look for information about the product's origin, as well as whether it meets European food safety requirements and whether any specific dietary contraindications are listed. For example: collagen as a supplement is not recommended for children and teenagers under 16. They may take it only on a doctor's prescription or a coach's recommendation, for athletic performance or recovery from injury. If you follow a keto diet, look for a keto version. If you're vegan or eat only fish and no other meat – there's collagen for you, too.
Collagens on the Bulgarian market
Collagens by NEOCELL
NeoCell Laboratories USA products carry a GMP quality certificate. The GMP certificate (Good Manufacturing Practices) is a program of the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) in the USA. The NNFA is the largest trade association for dietary supplements in the country. The purpose of the GMP certificate is to guarantee that certain standards are followed during manufacturing.
NeoCell offers hydrolyzed bovine collagen – in powder and liquid form.
The powder supplement contains bovine collagen type I and III, and the package is enough for 1 month, taken as one dose with a special measuring scoop. The price is around 89 BGN per box, which covers daily intake for 1 month.
The company also offers pure collagen enriched with vitamin C in capsules, 60 pieces for one month, also priced at around 50 BGN. It also produces type II collagen tablets, which are not recommended to be mixed with the other type of collagen at the same time. Here's why: types I and III can be taken together, but it's best to take type II separately, because mixing them all at once can reduce their specific benefits. If you use all three, space them out by a few hours; for example, type II in the morning and the others in the evening – ideally before bed, on an empty stomach. Also, don't forget that higher doses than recommended are harmful.
In conclusion, this is a collagen made in the USA, at an affordable price, with quality backed by its established presence on the American market.
Powdered hydrolyzed bovine collagen by For Life
This is a pure bovine protein, manufactured in Spain, available in a 600 g pack for up to 4 months of use, with one measuring scoop a day (6 g). The price is 64 BGN per pack. The product is certified according to the European ISO standard and carries a GMP quality-control certificate (Good Manufacturing Practices), issued by the European Medicines Agency.
The collagen is type I. The company points out that, unlike other supplements of the same kind, it's of European origin, which provides extra assurance of safety.
In short – this is an affordably priced collagen with a European quality guarantee, but it lacks type III protein, which isn't offered separately.
Collagens by Life store
The company offers separate 150 g packs of hydrolyzed collagen type I and type II, made in Germany, priced at 32 BGN each. This amount lasts for 15 days, taken as 3 measuring scoops. The flavored versions of the 100% bovine collagen in the same weight come at almost the same price.
Compared with other products, regular monthly use works out more expensive than other offers, especially since it isn't recommended to take both types of collagen at the same time.
You can also try their 300 g hydrolyzed fish collagen. It's extracted from cod skin, sourced from Norway, from clean ocean waters, as stated on the website. It contains type I collagen. At a price of 72 BGN, the product lasts for about a month. It's also available with added acerola, a source of vitamin C, but in a smaller pack.
The company also offers vegan collagen with hyaluronic acid, in a 150 g pack. The recommended intake is 2 measuring scoops a day, and at a price of 30 BGN, the pack lasts for about 15 days.
Collagen Forte by Zdravnitsa
This is a hydrolyzed bovine collagen of Bulgarian origin. It comes in a 180 g pack and contains a combination of type I collagen peptides, acerola, Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, and stevia. The online product description doesn't state how long one pack lasts, but it's certainly less than a month.
It's recommended to store it in the fridge, which creates some inconvenience. The price is 29 BGN, so for continuous, regular use the price is high compared to other similar offers.
Collagens by Great Lakes
Great Lakes collagens are sold online through the RealFood website. They are bovine and keto. Available options include pure 100% bovine collagen, unflavored, flavored with vanilla or wild berries, and a keto version with MCT and vanilla flavor.
The origin is a country outside the EU, but the products carry all the necessary food safety certificates. They contain type I and III collagen, which together form an excellent combination. The price per pack (between 76 and 84 BGN) covers regular use for about a month. The keto version with MCT is recommended for those following the regimen for a greater effect.
Collagens by RealFood
RealFood offers bovine collagen sourced from Brazil. The pack of 40 doses for 40 days is one of the most cost-effective offers in this product category. The product is relatively new to the market. It contains type I and III collagen and is priced at 63 BGN.
An advantage over other products on the market is the good price for the product's high quality. It comes with a measuring scoop, which guarantees the exact amount of the daily dose. There are also sachet packs available – 20 per box, 10 g per single dose.
Collagens by VSFood
VSFood offers bovine, porcine, and fish collagen – pure and combined with vitamins.
The type I bovine collagen is sourced from Brazil. The pack is 300 g, and no measuring scoop is included. It's available combined with maca, acerola, turmeric, and other additives.
The porcine collagen is also sourced from Brazil. The amount of hydrolysate in the powdered supplement is under 90%. The recommended intake is 10 g a day. There's no information on the website about the collagen type. The price is 50 BGN.
The company's hydrolyzed fish collagen is type I, sourced from France. The pack is 150 g, with a recommended intake of 10 g a day. At a price of 50 BGN, this means a one-month course costs more than similar affordable bovine or porcine collagen offers.
Marine collagens by Gala Secrets
Gala Secrets offers two liquid collagen products – Daily Marine Collagen and Extreme Marine Collagen – 500 mg.
These are a blend of type I hydrolyzed protein extracted from fish from the Arctic Ocean, tested for heavy metals. Their composition includes hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and lime extract.
The description recommends taking the products – 25 mg before bed, year-round, with a one-month break. The price is 93 BGN, which makes these offers premium for the average consumer. The set of both products is offered for 142 BGN.
Collagens by Organic Life
Organic Life offers several collagen products – bovine, keto, and fish, from various manufacturers both in Europe and beyond.
They come in powder and capsule form, with added minerals and vitamins. The packs cover the required doses for about a month. They're affordable in price, but we recommend reading the composition carefully to figure out whether this is the right product for you. The information varies and isn't structured in the same way across products. Keep in mind that these products don't come with a measuring scoop.
Collagens by Swedish Nutra
Swedish Nutra Bulgaria's collagens – bovine, fish, and vegan – come in liquid form. They're manufactured in Sweden and meet European food safety requirements. There are options in pure form as well as with additives.
The recommended intake is 15 to 25 ml a day, with one 500 ml pack priced from 44 to 50 BGN per pack. According to the description, the liquid has a «pleasant, refreshing aroma (no GMOs, no gluten, no lactose or unhealthy sugars)».
They're often offered in a bundle of 2 packs for between 88 and 100 BGN, to complete a full cycle of at least 40 days of use. For busy people, liquid collagen is a more convenient solution, but the price is higher than average.
