Collagen supplements with the fewest additives
Collagen may help osteoarthritis and other effects of aging. However, many collagen supplements contain more than just collagen. For example, silica or silicon dioxide are often added to prevent caking, sodium benzoate or benzoic acid as a preservative, magnesium stearate or stearic acid for easier manufacturing, and hypromellose (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) as an emulsifier or thickener.
I try to avoid these additives because they may have questionable health effects. If you want to do the same, my recommendations for the purest collagen supplements are:
Suggestions for collagen capsules:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- sodium benzoate-free / benzoic acid-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
Vitamin C (as calcium ascorbate), collagen type 1 & 3, rice flour, gelatin (capsule).
Suggestions for pure hydrolyzed collagen powders:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- sodium benzoate-free / benzoic acid-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
Collagen hydrolysate (kosher, beef).
Great Lakes sent me independent test results on heavy metals, glyphosate content, and antibioitics, all of which look good.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- sodium benzoate-free / benzoic acid-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
Hydrolyzed collagen.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- sodium benzoate-free / benzoic acid-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
Hydrolyzed collagen.
The company has a statement on how their products can effectively be considered grass-fed.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- sodium benzoate-free / benzoic acid-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
100% pasture raised bovine hide collagen peptides.
These peptides should be the equivalent of what other brands call hydrolyzed collagen.
In Australia?
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- sodium benzoate-free / benzoic acid-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
Grass-fed bovine type 1 collagen peptides.
Other collagen supplements
The following are other collagen supplements I'm aware of, sorted alphabetically.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Ageless Foundation Laboratories UltraDerm Gold Collagen Booster (Capsules) | Biocell collagen, hydrolyzed collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, proprietary polyphenol blend, polygonum cuspidatum root extract (50% resveratrol), grape seed extract, AppleZin (apple fruit extract), OleaSelect (olive fruit extract), gelatin, cellulose, magnesium stearate. |
| Country Life Gluten Free Flex-Able Bioactive Type II Collagen (Capsules) | Univestin (chinese skullcap extract, (scutellaria baicalensis)(root), black catechu extract (acacia catechu) (heartwood), maltodextrin), UCII standardized chicken cartilage (providing 10 mg undenatured type II collagen), cellulose (capsule shell), cellulose, leucine, potassium chloride, silica. |
| DaVinci Laboratories of Vermont Nature's Collagen (Tablets) | BioCell collagen, methylsulfonylmethane, glucosamine HCI (from shrimp and crab), microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, vegetable stearate, croscarmellose sodium, silicon dioxide, pharmaceutical glaze. Contains: shrimp and crab. Contains naturally occurring hyaluronic acid (10%) and chondroitin sulfate (20%). |
| Doctor's Best Best Collagen Types 1 & 3 | Collagen types 1 & 3. |
| Doctor's Best Best Collagen Types 1 & 3 (Tablets) | Vitamin C (as calcium ascorbate), sodium, collagen types 1 & 3, cellulose, stearic acid, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate (vegetable source). |
| Doctor's Best Best Hyaluronic Acid with Chondroitin Sulfate (Capsules) | BioCell collagen II, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, hydrolyzed collagen type II, rice powder, gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate (vegetable source). |
| Doctor's Best Best Hyaluronic Acid with Chondroitin Sulfate (Tablets) | BioCell collagen II, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, hydrolyzed collagen type II, cellulose, stearic acid, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), silicon dioxide, hypromellose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carnauba/micronized wax. |
| Doctor's Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM + Hyaluronic Acid (Capsules) | Chloride (from glucosamine sulfate 2KCI), sodium (from chondroitin sulfate sodium), potassium (from glucosamine sulfate 2KCI), BioCell collagen, hydrolyzed collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, glucosamine sulfate 2KCI, chondroitin sulfate (from chondroitin sulfate sodium), methylsulfonylmethane, gelatin (capsule), rice powder, magnesium stearate (vegetable source). Contains glucosamine obtained from the shells of shellfish (shrimp and/or crab, lobster). |
| Dr. Venessa's Anti-Aging 3 Collagen Type I II & III Powder Mixed Berry | Vitamin C (50% as calcium ascorbate, 50% as sodium ascorbate), calcium (as calcium ascorbate), copper (as cupric sulfate), manganese (as manganese sulfate), pure collagen type i, II & III, 3000 mg as bovine skin collagen type-i & III (naturally bound to type-i), 600 mg phytonutriance chondractiv as chicken sternum collagen type-II, l-glycine, l-lysine (as l-lysine HCL), l-proline, silica, citric acid, natural cherry, raspberry and mixed berry flavors, beet juice powder and stevia rebaudiana extract. |
| Fine USA Trading Inc. Hyaluron & Collagen | Vitamin C, biotin, hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin, pearl coix extract, fish collagen peptide, pearl coix extract, condensed milk powder, vegetable oil, elastin peptide, trehalose, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, condensed milk flavor, soy lecithin, biotin, sucralose. |
| Fine USA Trading Inc. Hyaluron & Collagen Original | Vitamin C, biotin, hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin, pearl coix extract, calcium powder, wheat germ, stevia. |
| Health Direct AminoSculpt Anti-Aging Liquid Collagen Cherry Flavor | CollaPure (proprietary enzymatic hydrolyzed collagen), purified water, low-glycemic fructose, citric acid, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and natural cherry flavor,. |
| Jarrow Formulas Type II Collagen Complex (Capsules) | BioCell collagen II, chicken sternum collagen type II extract, cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), and silicon dioxide, capsule consists of gelatin. |
| Life Extension Bio-Collagen with Patented UC-II (Capsules) | UC-II standardized chicken cartilage (providing 10 mg undenatured type II collagen), microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable cellulose (capsule), potassium chloride, silica. |
| Nature's Bounty Collagen (Tablets) | Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), sodium, hydrolyzed collagen, l-ornithine HCI, vegetable cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, silica. Contains <2% of: vegetable magnesium stearate, vegetable stearic acid. |
| Nature's Life Collagen Lift Resveratrol Plus (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin C (as calcium ascorbate), resveratrol (japanese knotweed root extract), chicken collagen (type II), fish collagen (type i & III), hyaluronic acid, polyphenols & proanthocyanidins (from french red wine), DMAE, alpha lipoic acid (ALA), chondroitin sulfate calcium (bovine), vegetable cellulose capsule, maltodextrin, cellulose, silica and magnesium stearate. |
| Nature's Life Marine Collagen (Capsules) | Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), marine collagen (from deep cold-water fish). vegetarian cellulose capsules, magnesium stearate and silica. |
| Neocell Collagen Joint Complex Type 2 (Capsules) | Sternal chicken collagen, natural chicken collagen type 2 protein containing: hyaluronic acid (HA), glucosamine, and chondroitin, stearic acid, vegetable magnesium stearate, kosher gelatin capsule. |
| Neocell Collagen+C Pomegranate Liquid | Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), sodium, collagen type 1 & 3, proprietary fruit blend, organic agave concentrate, pomegranate concentrate, cranberry concentrate, elderberry concentrate, green tea polyphenols (30%), and liquid ionic minerals, purified water, citric acid, natural flavors and potassium sorbate. |
| Neocell Fish Collagen + HA Collagen Support Complex (Capsules) | Fish super collagen, natural hyaluronic acid, vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), copper (as copper gluconate), zinc (as zinc oxide), silicon (as silicon dioxide), magnesium (as magnesium oxide), vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin), vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl), marine gelatin capsule, may contain vegetable magnesium stearate. sulfite residues. |
| Neocell Super Collagen Type 1 & 3 | Super collagen type 1 & 3 derived from pharmaceutical food grade bovine collagen. |
| Neocell Super Collagen+C Type 1 & 3 (Tablets) | Super collagen type 1 & 3 derived from pharmaceutical food grade bovine collagen, vitamin C (as calcium ascorbate), may contain vegetable magnesium stearate (as an anti-caking agent). |
| Neocell Super Collagen+C Type 1 & 3 (Tablets) | Collagen type 1 & 3 (derived from pharmaceutical food grade bovine collagen), vitamin C (as calcium ascorbate), may contain vegetable magnesium stearate (as an anti-caking agent). |
| Olympian Labs Inc. BioCell Collagen (Capsules) | Biocell collagen hydrolyzed collagen type II 900 mg, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, rice flour, microcrystalline cellulose (plant fiber), ascorbyl palmitate and silica. |
| Olympian Labs Inc. Hyaluronic Acid (Capsules) | BioCell collagen, hydrolyzed collagen type II, hyaluronic acid, gelatin (capsule), rice flour, microcrystalline cellulose (plant fiber), silicon dioxide, ascorbyl palmitate. |
| Protica Nutritional Research Proasis Clear Fruit Punch 6 Pack | Blend of enzymatically hydrolyzed (predigested) collagenic protein isolate, whey protein isolate (milk) and casein protein isolate (milk), stevia extract, pure deionized water, pure cane sugar, citric acid, natural flavors. |
| Protica Nutritional Research Proasis Protein Shots Clear Niagara Grape | Blend of enzymatically hydrolyzed (predigested) collagenic protein isolate, whey protein isolate (milk) and casein protein isolate (milk), stevia extract, pure deionized water, pure cane sugar, citric acid, natural flavors. |
| Protica Nutritional Research Proasis Protein Shots Clear Orange-Pineapple | Blend of enzymatically hydrolyzed (predigested) collagenic protein isolate, whey protein isolate (milk) and casein protein (milk), stevia extract, pure deionized water, pure cane sugar, citric acid, natural flavors. |
| Protica Nutritional Research Proasis Protein Shots Clear Raspberry | Blend of enzymatically hydrolyzed (predigested) collagenic protein isolate, whey protein isolate (milk) and casein protein isolate (milk), stevia extract, pure deionized water, pure cane sugar, citric acid, natural flavors. |
| ReserveAge Organics Collagen Booster (Capsules) | Pro-longevity factors resveratrol organic french red whole grape (skin, vine, stem, seeds) (vitis vinifera) full spectrum polyphenol profile, USDA certified organic muscadine red whole grape (skin, vine, stem, seeds) (vitis rotundifolia) and natural wild polygonum cuspidatum, BioCell collagen II, hydrolyzed collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, vegetable capsule (vegetable cellulose), rice bran, silica. |
| Roex Inc. Natural Collagen II Plus (Veggie Capsules) | Unhydrolyzed chicken sternal collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate sodium (bovine), hyaluronic acid (as sodium hyaluronate, vegetable capsules (modified cellulose), silicon dioxide, cellulose and magnesium stearate. |
| Source Naturals Skin Eternal Hyaluronic Acid (Tablets) | BioCell collagen II, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, modified cellulose gum, colloidal silicon dioxide, and natural peppermint flavor. |
| Source Naturals Skin Eternal Hyaluronic Acid (Tablets) | BioCell collagen II, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, modified cellulose gum, colloidal silicon dioxide, and natural peppermint flavor. |
| Twinlab MaxiLife Collagen Type II (Capsules) | Chicken sternal type II collagen (BioCell collagen II), chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, cellulose, gelatin, calcium phosphate, medium chain triglycerides, magnesium stearate. |
| Vitology Nutraceuticals Super Collagen with Vitamin C & Rosehips (Capsules) | Vitamin C, collagen, rose hips, gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose. |