Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Recognised certification
Manufacturer statement
NSF Certified for Sport listing for "Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides" shows Brand: Vital Proteins LLC, Product Form: Powder, Flavor: Unflavored, Serving Size: 20 g (4 Tbsp), and lists the product in NSF's certified product search.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Recognised certification
Manufacturer statement
NSF Certified for Sport listing for "Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides" shows Brand: Vital Proteins LLC, Product Form: Powder, Flavor: Unflavored, Serving Size: 20 g (4 Tbsp), and lists the product in NSF's certified product search.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Testing claimed
Manufacturer statement
Manufacturer site says: "We are proud to hold the ISO:90001 Quality Management System accreditation" and "British Standards Institution: ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, (Certificate no. FS 657303)." This is a quality-system accreditation claim, not a product-specific contents/purity test result.
Compare actual collagen per labelled daily serving and keep preparation and source visible. Gram-scale hydrolysed peptides and milligram-scale undenatured type II are not dose-equivalent, and a blend or total scoop weight is not the same as collagen. Where directions give a range, the range is shown and daily cost uses the low end (no directions: one unit a day). Read the dose guide ↓
Manufacturer page states: “as with all of our products, we test the finished powder for microbiology as well as heavy metals with a third party laboratory to ensure they’re safe and healthy to consume.” The page also links to “Full suite test results - Grass-Fed Collagen Powder” and a batch microbiology report.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NSF Certified for Sport listing for "Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides" shows Brand: Vital Proteins LLC, Product Form: Powder, Flavor: Unflavored, Serving Size: 20 g (4 Tbsp), and lists the product in NSF's certified product search.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Alpha01 product page lists "CERTIFICATIONS & LAB TESTS" with "Heavy Metals Testing" and "Microbial Contaminants Testing" for batch LC249573, and the linked PDF test report for "Alpha01 - Multi Collagen Complex Capsules 2400mg" states test report no. 219004/26/RIG, batch LC249573/102028, with laboratory address "SIA 'J.S. HAMILTON Baltic'" and results for Salmonella, E. coli, and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg).
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NSF Certified for Sport listing for "Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides" shows Brand: Vital Proteins LLC, Product Form: Powder, Flavor: Unflavored, Package Size: 265 g, 284 g, and lot numbers, confirming a certified product entry on NSF's own registry.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
WeightWorld says the product is "INDEPENDENTLY LAB-TESTED" and the PDF report for "WeightWorld Pure Marine Collagen 1200 mg 120 CAPSULES - BATCH: 429745" states the sample was tested for microbiology, heavy metals, and ethylene oxide/2-chloroethanol and was compliant.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Independently Lab-Tested for Purity & Safety" and "We use Eurofins and Campden BRI for our product and ingredient testing." The product page also says "LAB TESTED" and "3rd Party Tested – Unbiased & Verified Results."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Osavi certificate page for 'Collagen, Hydrolyzed type I & III collagen - 600 g' states: 'This supplement has been laboratory tested by an independent laboratory and meets the requirements for purity and composition.'
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutravita’s product page says: “Third-Party Tested for Quality: Independently tested for heavy metals and microbiological safety to ensure quality and purity.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Applied Nutrition’s product page says the collagen peptides are in the “Informed Sport” range and that “Applied Nutrition’s Informed Sport range features Informed Sport-certified supplements that have been independently tested and certified for athletes…”; the page also says “TRUSTED AND TESTED INGREDIENTS” and “All ingredients evaluated, scrutinised & analysed.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Third party tested*" and "Every batch, from raw ingredient to finished product, undergoes our independent Brave Standard testing. This rigorous process verifies purity, potency, and safety through detailed lab analysis" on the Ancient + Brave site.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Bulk’s own Food Safety page says: “All relevant batches of our products are independently tested for pesticides, heavy metals, microbial activity, and other contaminants.” The product page also says the powder is made with hydrolysed collagen and that Bulk’s quality team uses internal and third-party checks, but I did not find an independently verifiable COA or registry entry for this specific collagen product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "To ensure the highest safety and quality, our products undergo rigorous testing for heavy metals and unwanted compounds during production to fully comply with global regulations."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
ESN product page states: "Our quality promise — All batches undergo independent laboratory testing to confirm safety, accurate ingredient information and the highest quality standards."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer About Us page: “In addition, in the Quality Control department of the laboratory located in the European Community, microbiological and physical-chemical controls are carried out, corroborated with quality controls by external laboratories. The quality of each of our production batches is analysed.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page says: “We believe trust starts with proof. That’s why every one of our supplements is independently third-party tested, to verify purity, potency, and safety, and to ensure what’s on the label is exactly what’s in the product.” The product landing page also says the collagen is “rigorously tested and certified Halal,” and a promo page says it is “third-party tested by Eurofins for heavy metals and GMOs.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer FAQ states: "DO YOU PERFORM THIRD-PARTY TESTING? Yes. Every batch undergoes rigorous third-party lab testing to verify purity, potency, and the absence of contaminants like heavy metals or microbes."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Applied Nutrition product page says "Tested for Athletes" and "TRUSTED AND TESTED INGREDIENTS" / "All ingredients evaluated, scrutinised & analysed"; Amazon listing image also shows "TESTED FOR ATHLETES".
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Optimum Nutrition’s own quality page says: “Our products are made with the highest standards of quality” and “We perform over 100,000 rigorous quality and food safety checks annually at our state-of-the-art owned production facilities.” It also says the company’s facilities hold certifications from organizations including “LGC Informed Choice, NSF, ISO, and BRCGS.” However, I did not find an independently verified certification or product-specific COA for this specific collagen product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "We are proud to hold the ISO:90001 Quality Management System accreditation" and "British Standards Institution: ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, (Certificate no. FS 657303)." This is a quality-system accreditation claim, not a product-specific contents/purity test result.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Myprotein’s quality page says: “Rigorous testing takes place before production and before every product reaches you… Our in-house quality systems include: Raw material verification… In-process and finished product quality testing…” and also: “Certified products undergo additional independent testing for heavy metals, pesticides and amino acid profiles.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page states: “as with all of our products, we test the finished powder for microbiology as well as heavy metals with a third party laboratory to ensure they’re safe and healthy to consume.” The page also links to “Full suite test results - Grass-Fed Collagen Powder” and a batch microbiology report.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NSF Certified for Sport listing for "Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides" shows Brand: Vital Proteins LLC, Product Form: Powder, Flavor: Unflavored, Serving Size: 20 g (4 Tbsp), and lists the product in NSF's certified product search.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Alpha01 product page lists "CERTIFICATIONS & LAB TESTS" with "Heavy Metals Testing" and "Microbial Contaminants Testing" for batch LC249573, and the linked PDF test report for "Alpha01 - Multi Collagen Complex Capsules 2400mg" states test report no. 219004/26/RIG, batch LC249573/102028, with laboratory address "SIA 'J.S. HAMILTON Baltic'" and results for Salmonella, E. coli, and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg).
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NSF Certified for Sport listing for "Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides" shows Brand: Vital Proteins LLC, Product Form: Powder, Flavor: Unflavored, Package Size: 265 g, 284 g, and lot numbers, confirming a certified product entry on NSF's own registry.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
WeightWorld says the product is "INDEPENDENTLY LAB-TESTED" and the PDF report for "WeightWorld Pure Marine Collagen 1200 mg 120 CAPSULES - BATCH: 429745" states the sample was tested for microbiology, heavy metals, and ethylene oxide/2-chloroethanol and was compliant.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Independently Lab-Tested for Purity & Safety" and "We use Eurofins and Campden BRI for our product and ingredient testing." The product page also says "LAB TESTED" and "3rd Party Tested – Unbiased & Verified Results."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Osavi certificate page for 'Collagen, Hydrolyzed type I & III collagen - 600 g' states: 'This supplement has been laboratory tested by an independent laboratory and meets the requirements for purity and composition.'
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutravita’s product page says: “Third-Party Tested for Quality: Independently tested for heavy metals and microbiological safety to ensure quality and purity.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Applied Nutrition’s product page says the collagen peptides are in the “Informed Sport” range and that “Applied Nutrition’s Informed Sport range features Informed Sport-certified supplements that have been independently tested and certified for athletes…”; the page also says “TRUSTED AND TESTED INGREDIENTS” and “All ingredients evaluated, scrutinised & analysed.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Third party tested*" and "Every batch, from raw ingredient to finished product, undergoes our independent Brave Standard testing. This rigorous process verifies purity, potency, and safety through detailed lab analysis" on the Ancient + Brave site.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Bulk’s own Food Safety page says: “All relevant batches of our products are independently tested for pesticides, heavy metals, microbial activity, and other contaminants.” The product page also says the powder is made with hydrolysed collagen and that Bulk’s quality team uses internal and third-party checks, but I did not find an independently verifiable COA or registry entry for this specific collagen product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "To ensure the highest safety and quality, our products undergo rigorous testing for heavy metals and unwanted compounds during production to fully comply with global regulations."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
ESN product page states: "Our quality promise — All batches undergo independent laboratory testing to confirm safety, accurate ingredient information and the highest quality standards."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer About Us page: “In addition, in the Quality Control department of the laboratory located in the European Community, microbiological and physical-chemical controls are carried out, corroborated with quality controls by external laboratories. The quality of each of our production batches is analysed.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page says: “We believe trust starts with proof. That’s why every one of our supplements is independently third-party tested, to verify purity, potency, and safety, and to ensure what’s on the label is exactly what’s in the product.” The product landing page also says the collagen is “rigorously tested and certified Halal,” and a promo page says it is “third-party tested by Eurofins for heavy metals and GMOs.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer FAQ states: "DO YOU PERFORM THIRD-PARTY TESTING? Yes. Every batch undergoes rigorous third-party lab testing to verify purity, potency, and the absence of contaminants like heavy metals or microbes."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Applied Nutrition product page says "Tested for Athletes" and "TRUSTED AND TESTED INGREDIENTS" / "All ingredients evaluated, scrutinised & analysed"; Amazon listing image also shows "TESTED FOR ATHLETES".
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Optimum Nutrition’s own quality page says: “Our products are made with the highest standards of quality” and “We perform over 100,000 rigorous quality and food safety checks annually at our state-of-the-art owned production facilities.” It also says the company’s facilities hold certifications from organizations including “LGC Informed Choice, NSF, ISO, and BRCGS.” However, I did not find an independently verified certification or product-specific COA for this specific collagen product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "We are proud to hold the ISO:90001 Quality Management System accreditation" and "British Standards Institution: ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, (Certificate no. FS 657303)." This is a quality-system accreditation claim, not a product-specific contents/purity test result.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Source / type
Hydrolysed peptidesMulti-sourceTablet800 mg Type I (fish) + 200 mg Type II (chicken)
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Myprotein’s quality page says: “Rigorous testing takes place before production and before every product reaches you… Our in-house quality systems include: Raw material verification… In-process and finished product quality testing…” and also: “Certified products undergo additional independent testing for heavy metals, pesticides and amino acid profiles.”
One-time purchase prices; delivery and conditional discounts excluded. Daily cost uses the recorded label serving. Comparison amounts are not personal dose recommendations. Unknown Prime eligibility is not treated as confirmed.
Collagen forms and labels explained
Collagen source and collagen preparation answer different questions. Record both, then compare the actual collagen amount rather than assuming a source species or branded name is superior.
Hydrolysed collagen peptides
Gram-scale peptide preparation
Typical label unit
g
Evidence areas
Skin, joints, bone, exercise
Trials use different peptide preparations and doses; do not assume all hydrolysed products are clinically interchangeable.
Gelatin
Denatured collagen preparation
Typical label unit
g
Not equivalent to
Undenatured type II
Gelatin exercise studies are preparation-specific and should not be transferred automatically to peptide powders.
Undenatured type II collagen
Native type II preparation
Typical study unit
mg
Key distinction
Not gram-equivalent
A 40 mg undenatured type II dose cannot be ranked as weaker than gram-scale hydrolysed collagen by weight alone.
Marine fish collagen
Source classification
Source
Fish or marine species
Check
Species and allergens
Marine source does not prove collagen type, molecular weight or superior efficacy.
Bovine collagen
Source classification
Source
Bovine material
Do not infer
Collagen type
Bovine wording alone does not establish type I, hydrolysis method, peptide profile or clinical superiority.
Collagen dose depends on the preparation
There is no collagen-specific UK Nutrient Reference Value or recommended supplement intake in the official reference-intake sources checked. UK labelling legislation provides a general protein reference intake, but that must not be converted into a collagen target. [2]
Research amounts depend heavily on the preparation and goal. Hydrolysed collagen skin studies commonly use gram-scale servings, while one hydrolysed-collagen joint-pain trial used 10 g/day and one bone-density trial used 5 g/day. [5][10][11] In contrast, a key knee-osteoarthritis trial of undenatured type II collagen used 40 mg/day. [8] These are study exposures, not interchangeable dose recommendations.
The FSA advises following the product's labelled daily dose and not exceeding it. [1] This comparison therefore records the label-supported collagen amount without inventing a universal low, normal or high band.
What the collagen evidence shows
For skin, the evidence is suggestive but not robust enough to treat all collagen products as proven. A 2026 systematic review found improvements in many hydrolysed-collagen trials but rated the majority of included studies at high risk of bias. [5] A 2025 meta-analysis found overall benefits for hydration, elasticity and wrinkles, but those effects disappeared in non-industry-funded studies and in high-quality-study subgroups. [6]
For knee osteoarthritis, an updated meta-analysis of 11 randomised trials found pooled improvements in pain and function, but the studies used different collagen preparations and showed substantial heterogeneity. [7] That is why this comparison keeps hydrolysed peptides and undenatured type II separate.
Collagen evidence by goal
Evidence by goal
Goal
Evidence strength
What was assessed
Typical study context
Main limitation
Skin hydration, elasticity and wrinkles
Mixed / low-to-moderate confidence
Hydrolysed collagen across randomized trials
2026 review included 25 RCTs; many reported benefits, but most trials were high risk of bias.
Preparations, outcomes and study quality vary; 2025 funding/quality analysis found no benefit in stronger subgroups.
Knee osteoarthritis symptoms
Promising but formulation-dependent
Multiple collagen-based preparations
2024 meta-analysis: 11 RCTs, 870 participants; pooled pain and function outcomes favoured collagen.
High heterogeneity; hydrolysed collagen and undenatured type II should not be treated as one intervention.
Activity-related joint pain
Limited
Collagen hydrolysate 10 g/day
24-week randomized trial in athletes.
Older study, attrition and selected active population.
Bone mineral density
Limited, population-specific
Specific collagen peptides 5 g/day
12-month RCT in postmenopausal women with reduced BMD.
Does not establish a general adult bone-maintenance dose.
Read the full evidence-by-goal detail
Skin hydration, elasticity and wrinkles
Hydrolysed collagen has shown positive results in multiple RCTs, but study quality, formulation differences and industry funding reduce confidence in a simple class-wide claim. [5][6]
Joint discomfort and knee osteoarthritis
Collagen-based supplements have improved pooled pain and function outcomes in knee-OA trials, but formulations vary. [7] Undenatured type II collagen is especially important to separate because trials use milligram rather than gram doses. [8]
Bone and exercise claims
A 12-month trial in postmenopausal women with reduced BMD used 5 g/day specific collagen peptides and reported improved BMD measures, while exercise studies have produced mixed mechanistic findings. [11][12] These findings are preparation- and population-specific.
When to take collagen
No universal morning-versus-evening advantage was identified for ordinary collagen supplementation. Follow the product directions unless a clinician gives different advice.
Some exercise research deliberately timed gelatin or collagen around training. For example, a small crossover study gave vitamin-C-enriched gelatin one hour before brief exercise and measured collagen-synthesis markers. [9] That protocol is not enough to state that every collagen supplement must be taken before exercise.
Collagen safety, source and allergens
Who should be cautious?If any of the following apply to you, speak to a healthcare professional before taking Collagen - see the full detail below for why.
People with fish or other relevant animal-source allergies
People who avoid bovine, porcine, fish or chicken ingredients for dietary or religious reasons
Pregnant or breastfeeding people unless their healthcare professional considers the product appropriate
People with diagnosed kidney, metabolic, joint, bone or connective-tissue conditions who need individualized advice
People taking regular prescribed medicines who are unsure whether a combination product is suitable
The FSA advises consumers to follow supplement label directions, avoid exceeding the recommended dose and seek healthcare advice when pregnant, breastfeeding, taking regular medicines or living with relevant medical conditions. [1]
Collagen is commonly animal-derived, so source disclosure matters. A current UK marine product explicitly uses fish collagen peptides and carries a 'may contain milk' statement. [4] People with relevant allergies or dietary restrictions should check the exact source and allergen information rather than relying on front-of-pack terms such as 'marine'.
No collagen-specific UK upper limit was located in the official sources checked. That absence should not be interpreted as evidence that arbitrarily high intake is safe.
Collagen blends and added ingredients
Collagen products may include vitamin C, biotin, hyaluronic acid, magnesium, calcium or other ingredients. Record each active separately. A 10 g scoop does not necessarily provide 10 g collagen if part of the serving is flavouring or other actives.
UK health claims are regulated through the Great Britain nutrition and health claims framework, and foods/supplements cannot be marketed as treatments for disease. [3][1] Evidence for a co-ingredient should not be credited to collagen itself.
Who might consider collagen
Adults considering collagen for skin or joint goals should focus first on the exact preparation and evidence, because findings for hydrolysed peptides, gelatin and undenatured type II cannot be pooled into one promise. [5][7] People seeking to treat diagnosed osteoarthritis, osteoporosis or another medical condition should use clinical advice rather than a retail product ranking.
How to compare collagen testing evidence
Useful collagen testing evidence should identify the finished product, actual collagen or protein content, batch where relevant, contaminant scope and source information. For marine/fish products, source and allergen disclosure are particularly important. For branded peptides or undenatured type II products, a generic protein assay does not by itself verify the claimed preparation.
A marketing statement such as 'third-party tested' is weaker than traceable laboratory or certification evidence. The Supplement Compare testing guide explains the evidence levels used on this site. Read the guide
Testing evidence in this comparison
A testing claim is not the same as a verified report. No public evidence located does not mean a product has not been tested.
Testing review pending0
Recognised certification2
Verified independent evidence3
Manufacturer COA1
Testing claimed16
No public evidence located3
What does collagen cost?
Current UK comparison set, based on the daily serving shown on each label.
£0.09Lowest daily cost
£0.62Median daily cost
£1.43Highest daily cost
Your questions, answered
How much collagen should I take per day?
There is no single evidence-based dose for every collagen product. Hydrolysed peptide studies use gram-scale amounts, while undenatured type II collagen trials use milligram-scale amounts such as 40 mg/day. [8] Compare the exact preparation and follow the product directions rather than using one universal number.
Is marine collagen better than bovine collagen?
The evidence reviewed does not support a blanket ranking by animal source. Marine and bovine describe source, while peptide preparation, actual collagen amount, study formulation, allergens and testing evidence are separate factors.
Do collagen supplements improve skin?
Some randomized trials report improvements in hydration, elasticity or wrinkles, but evidence quality is inconsistent. A 2025 meta-analysis found that benefits were not significant in non-industry-funded studies or high-quality-study subgroups. [6]
Are collagen peptides and gelatin the same?
No. Both come from collagen, but they are processed differently and should not be treated as dose-equivalent preparations. Gelatin has its own study protocols, including a small exercise study using 5 g and 15 g with vitamin C. [9]
What is undenatured type II collagen?
It is a distinct native type II collagen preparation, commonly chicken-derived in clinical studies. One large knee-OA trial used 40 mg/day for 180 days. [8] That milligram dose should not be compared directly with grams of hydrolysed collagen peptides.
