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The Effects of Type I Collagen Hydrolysate Supplementation on Bones, Muscles, and Joints: A Systematic Review

Paula Janzen Brueckheimer, Tales Costa Silva, Leonardo Rodrigues, Vivian Zague, Carlos Isaia Filho
Orthopedic Reviews 2025 17:129086

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 39980497
PubMed Central
PMC11842160
DOI
10.52965/001c.129086
Funding
Genu-in covered the article submission fees.
Competing interests
The authors stated no conflicts related to the review, but Vivian Zague was employed by Genu-in, a company that produces hydrolyzed collagen.

Study snapshot

DesignSystematic review of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews focused on oral Type I collagen hydrolysate
ModelMusculoskeletal human studies across bone, muscle and joint outcomes
Sample36 randomized controlled trials met inclusion criteria
InterventionType I hydrolyzed collagen supplementation; the review excluded beauty studies, preclinical studies, unblinded/nonrandomized studies and studies combining collagen with other ingredients.
DurationSearch conducted August 2024; individual trial durations varied
EndpointsBone outcomes including BMD; Joint pain and clinical function; Muscle/body composition outcomes; Adverse events

What the study showed, in plain terms

This 2025 systematic review narrowed the question to Type I hydrolysed collagen and excluded combination-product trials. Joint studies were generally favorable, bone evidence remained insufficient for firm conclusions, and muscle findings were inconsistent and more often positive when paired with exercise.

Key findings

Thirty-six RCTs met inclusion criteria. Joint studies commonly reported improvements in pain or mobility; muscle studies were inconsistent and often exercise-dependent; bone studies had limitations that prevented definitive conclusions. The authors highlighted heterogeneity and commercial funding across the field.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Heterogeneous populations, doses, durations and outcomes; several trials had high dropout rates; adverse-event reporting was inconsistent; much of the underlying evidence was commercially funded. One review author was employed by a collagen manufacturer and that company paid article submission fees.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology