Vitafoods Europe 2026: DolCas Biotech to unveil new format for marine collagen tripeptide

Nutraceutical ingredient specialist DolCas Biotech has released a new format of its neutral odor and flavor marine collagen tripeptide ingredient, Morikol. The new delivery system comprises single-serving sachets of Morikol in 1 and 2 g options. These will be showcased at the upcoming Vitafoods Europe 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, from May 5–7. 

As a melt-in-mouth powder, Morikol is 100% water-soluble and can be ingested directly without mixing into liquids and without any aftertaste. DolCas touts the ingredient for its “superior bioavailability, clinically demonstrated efficacy, and exceptional formulation flexibility.”

Unlike most collagen ingredients, the bioactive glycine-proline-hydroxyproline (GPH) tripeptide provides efficient absorption, even within a food or beverage matrix, according to DolCas.

Morikol’s unique mechanism ensures rapid absorption into circulation and can exert specific biological activity.

“This new format offers consumers a fast, convenient way to take collagen anywhere, anytime, which can also help support rapid absorption due to the highly bioavailable tripeptide structure,” says KG Rao, founder and CEO of DolCas Biotech.

“Conventional collagen peptides often recommend consumption on an empty stomach for optimal absorption, but when DolCas performed a comprehensive critical review of the ingredient, superior standardization properties were revealed that made it unique compared to other collagen products.”

High concentration of GPH

Morikol’s primary advantage is its high concentration of the specific GPH tripeptide sequence, a bioactive structure naturally recognized by the body.

DolCas communicates that while conventional collagen peptides end up as amino acid sources after digestion, Morikol precision hydrolyzed bioactive peptides deliver targeted physiological signaling.

Once they are absorbed, the GPH tripeptides act as building blocks for collagen and also as biological messengers that activate fibroblasts. These cells are responsible for producing collagen, elastin, and extracellular matrix proteins.

Next to stimulating collagen biosynthesis, emerging research suggests that GPH helps support skin hydration and elasticity, softening the skin’s roughness, deeper layers, and reducing wrinkles.

“Most collagen products function simply as amino acid sources,” says Rao. “Morikol is fundamentally different.”

“By delivering bioactive GPH tripeptides that activate fibroblasts and stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis at the cellular level, Morikol acts not just as collagen protein but as a targeted bioactive signaling system designed to support skin and connective tissue health from within.”

Skin health benefits

Morikol is clinically effective at a daily dose of 1–2g, which DolCas notes is lower than the 2.5–10g typically required for conventional collagen products.

Placebo-controlled human studies demonstrated that Morikol, at a 1 g daily recommended dose, offers significant improvements across key skin health parameters. Those results highlight the biological activity of Morikol’s peptides, and were observed within six to 12 weeks of supplementation.

Morikol can integrate into hot and cold applications without requiring flavor masking, across various delivery formats.Measurable improvements in skin roughness appeared in as few as six weeks, highlights DolCas. Specifically, the published data indicate that supplementation with Morikol resulted in a 10-fold improvement in wrinkle reduction (crow’s feet) as well as a “notable improvement” in skin hydration, and smoothness.

Morikol also showed potential in supporting connective tissue health, including tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones. The highly bioavailable tripeptide profile contributes to collagen turnover and regeneration within musculoskeletal tissues, opening opportunities for applications in joint health, sports nutrition, and healthy aging formulations.

Furthermore, DolCas explains that Morikol is produced from the up-scaled skin of Aquaculture Stewardship CouncilASC-certified freshwater tilapia via a specialized enzymatic hydrolysis process, custom-designed to generate bioactive collagen tripeptides. This proprietary manufacturing process ensures standardized levels of total tripeptides, Gly–X–Y (GXY) peptides, and Gly–Pro–Hyp (GPH) peptides.

Flexible applicability

Morikol can integrate into hot and cold applications without requiring flavor masking, across various delivery formats. Last year, Dolcas released a Morikol-infused chocolate bar, delivering 1 g of the ingredient in each 8 g cube.

The ingredient is also available in functional beverages, including one crafted by Cup of Joe’s Zend Wellness brand of fine roasted functional coffees. It can also be delivered in powdered beverage premixes, capsules, and gummy formats.

DolCas also notes that marine sourcing further eliminates concerns sometimes associated with bovine collagen, such as potential exposure to bovine spongiform encephalopathy or fibromuscular dysplasia risks among cows.

In other nutraceutical highlights to debut at Vitafoods Europe 2026, Pharmactive Biotech Products plans to showcase its first nutricosmetic, Kyoh, which is made from rocket leaf extract to help support hair follicle function.

Meanwhile, Greenvit will exhibit its Aronvit gut health nutraceutical that offers prebiotic effects from aronia berry polyphenols, as well as a dual benefit when serving as a low-dose modulator of natural GLP-1 for metabolism.