Hydrolysis is the process of using water (hydro-) to break (-lysis) substances into smaller pieces. In this case, water is used to break large collagen fibres into free amino acids and smaller chains of amino acids, called peptides. The process of hydrolysis is very important, as in this case, size does matter, the smaller the better.
Breaking collagen into smaller chains allows for free amino acids as well as some peptides to bypass digestion completely. Hydrolysis also makes it easier for the peptide chains to be digested, absorbed and distributed throughout the body, in this case to the dermal layer of the skin. Once in the dermis, the free amino acids act as the building blocks for new collagen and elastin. The collagen peptides bind to receptors to stimulate the production of new and thicker collagen fibres, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
Because hydrolysed collagen peptides have undergone processing to yield the ideal amino acid chains to support collagen production, they have very specific amino acid compositions with a high concentration of glycine, hydroxyproline and proline. When hydrolysed collagen is ingested, its superior bioavailability means that the hydroxyproline peptides are not completely digested and can be detected in the blood. These hydroxyproline peptides stimulate cells in the skin, joints and bones, and with vitamin C, lead to collagen synthesis.