amino acid · for joint pain
Collagen
Supplies the building blocks cartilage is made from.
Say that in clinical terms
Hydrolyzed collagen provides bioavailable proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline to support cartilage matrix synthesis.
How strong is the research?
Solid evidence
Industry funded
3 papers read, 3 supporting.
Who was studied: Mostly osteoarthritis patients — older, with diagnosed joint disease.
How much to take
daily
10–15 g
Take with vitamin C (50-100mg) to enhance collagen synthesis. Effects appear after 8-12 weeks.
Before you take it
- No NIH/IOM Tolerable Upper Intake Level established for collagen peptides at any dose
- No clinically significant drug interactions documented at standard supplement doses (2.5–15 g/day); persons taking anticoagulants, antihypertensives, or immunosuppressants should consult a physician before use
- Insufficient clinical safety data for use during pregnancy and lactation — avoidance is recommended in the absence of safety studies, not because harm is documented
- Minor GI side effects (bloating, early satiety) reported in the first 1–2 weeks of use, particularly at higher doses; typically transient and self-limiting
- Hypersensitivity risk in persons with known allergies to source animal proteins (bovine, porcine, or marine depending on collagen source); source should be confirmed on product labeling