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Type-II Collagen

Type II collagen (CII) is a peptide and component of joint cartilage. Its oral ingestion appears to reduce autoimmunity to the body's own CII, resulting in less inflammation in instances of osteoarthritis and rheumatism and benefits to joint health.

Our evidence-based analysis on type-ii collagen features 70 unique references to scientific papers.

Kamal Patel
Research analysis led by and reviewed by the Examine team.
Last Updated:

How to Take

Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details

Collagen supplements are taken in one of two different forms, either in the form of hydrolyzed collagen or in the form of an undenatured type II collagen; both forms have different dosing strategies and while their benefits may share some similarities can be considered two different supplements.

Hydrolyzed collagen is taken in doses of around 10g a day for skin health and some benefits to joints, and can be taken with meals. It should not be taken in higher doses as a protein supplement (for muscle gain and fat loss) due to having less efficacy than other protein sources and a lackluster amino acid profile.

Undenatured collagen is taken at a lower dose of approximately 40mg once daily for the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis when there is an autoimmune component to it, and while it doesn't need to be taken at any particular time of the day it may be ideal to take it on an empty stomach before breakfast.

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Human Effect Matrix

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The Human Effect Matrix summarizes human studies to tell you what effects Type-II Collagen has on your body, how much evidence there is, and how strong these effects are.

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Grade Level of Evidence
Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials
Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies
Uncontrolled or observational studies only
Level of Evidence
? The amount of high quality evidence. The more evidence, the more we can trust the results.
Outcome Magnitude of effect
? The direction and size of the supplement's impact on each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
Consistency of research results
? Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
Notes
grade-b
Pain
Minor High See all 5 studies
Limited research suggests a small benefit for osteoarthritis patients and a modest benefit for those with rheumatoid arthritis. It's unclear what the optimal dose is, and it may depend on the form. 1 mg of solubilized collagen, 10 g of hydrolyzed collagen, and 40 mg of undenatured collagen are all supported by research, while 20 mcg of native collagen actually coincided with a greater reduction in rheumatoid arthritis pain than higher doses in one study.
grade-c
Exercise-induced Joint Pain
Minor - See study
One study in healthy people with joint discomfort during exercise found that those taking 40 mg of undenatured collagen could exercise somewhat longer without getting sore than the placebo group. Notable effects were only seen after taking collagen for 2-3 months but persisted for up to 6 months.
grade-c
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Minor - See 2 studies
Limited research suggests a reduction in pain, but the studies available don't provide evidence for an improvement in the other symptoms.
grade-c
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Minor Very High See all 3 studies
Limited research suggested an improvement in pain, swelling, stiffness, and tenderness.
grade-c
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
- - See study
One study in rheumatoid arthritis patients reported that collagen didn't seem to influence c-reactive protein, but they didn't provide the data.
grade-c
Immunoglobulin A
- - See study
No apparent effect in one study on rheumatoid arthritis.
grade-c
Immunoglobulin G
- - See study
No apparent effect in one study on rheumatoid arthritis.

Studies Excluded from Consideration

Note: The above HEM contains information on both hydrolyzed collagen supplements and undenatured collagen supplements despite significant dose differences between the two

  • Used alongside calcitonin injections[1]

  • Confounded with chondroitin and hyaluronic acid[2]

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Things to Note

Is a Form Of

Primary Function:

Other Functions:

Also Known As

hydrolyzed collagen, solubilized collagen, CII, shark gelatin, gelatin, collagen

Do Not Confuse With

Colostrum (different protein with a similar name)

  • CII supplements are derived from animals and thus not vegan-friendly

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Click here to see all 70 references.

This page is regularly updated, to include the most recently available clinical trial evidence.

Each member of our research team is required to have no conflicts of interest, including with supplement manufacturers, food companies, and industry funders. The team includes nutrition researchers, registered dietitians, physicians, and pharmacists. We have a strict editorial process.

This page features 70 references. All factual claims are followed by specifically-applicable references. Click here to see the full set of research information and references for Type-II Collagen.

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