The best collagen for joint health isn’t always easy to find. The specific ingredients and types of collagen for joint health aren’t usually placed on the label, but our team dug into our research and found the best collagen for joint health on the market so you can find relief for your joint pain.

The Best Collagen For Joint Health

Nearly one in four adults in the United States is affected by joint pain and stiffness. That means that you, or someone you love, are likely in pain with every movement. While the causes of joint pain are varied, from the normal wear and tear on your body as you age to chronic illnesses or comorbidity with other diseases, the treatments for chronic joint pain aren’t cutting it for most people. 

Either you have to take potentially addictive painkillers, use supportive aids or hope that over-the-counter medication will be enough to stop the pain. But all of these treatments are bandaids, and the most effective way to treat a problem is at the source. When it comes to joint pain, one main culprit is a lack of collagen in your body, which makes sense given that our bodies decrease collagen production around the age of 25. 

The best way to attack your joint pain is at the source by adding collagen to your routine, but what is the best collagen for joint health? You’ll want to make sure your collagen has multiple types, especially type II which helps with joint pain. Then you’ll need to make sure it is hydrolyzed and has vitamin C, as your body can’t use collagen as efficiently without those factors. And if you can find collagen that has added ingredients that help reduce inflammation, you’ve found collagen that will improve your joint health immeasurably.

Editor's Choice: Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen

The number one reason we picked Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen is the added ingredients of turmeric, Boswellia serrata, black pepper, and ashwagandha

The number one reason we picked Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen is the added ingredients of turmeric, Boswellia serrata, black pepper, and ashwagandha. These ingredients are known to reduce inflammation in your joints which then reduces pain and improves mobility.

Our Review Process

Our team has some basic criteria for every collagen we review, like price, ingredients, availability, taste, and more. But when it comes to collagen for joint health, we knew we needed to add two criteria to our list: whether the collagen has type II collagen and whether it had a robust amino acid profile with the right amino acids to help with joint health. 

Type II collagen is known for its ability to improve joint health because it is a major component of joint cartilage. While all types of collagen can help your joint mobility, type II is the powerhouse behind healthier joint function. Additionally, the right amino acids in your collagen will help with joint health as well, like methionine, cysteine, arginine, histidine, and glycine. 

Most collagen products have somewhere between 18-22 amino acids, all providing different benefits to the body. But without at least a few of the amino acids that specifically help reduce inflammation and increase collagen in the body, you won’t experience better joint health. We dug into each product and found which had the right types of collagen and amino acids so you can make an informed decision about which to buy to improve your joint health.

#1: Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen: Formulated For Joint Health

The number one reason we picked Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen is the added ingredients of turmeric, Boswellia serrata, black pepper, and ashwagandha

Collagen Specifications

Collagen Amount: 10 g

Protein Amount: 9 g

Gluten-Free: Yes

Multi-Sourced: Yes

Multiple Types: Yes

Hydrolyzed Collagen: Yes

Vitamin C: Yes

Taste: 3.8/5

Price: $47.45 for 30 servings ($1.58/ Serving)

Accessibility: Available on Amazon

Type II Collagen: Yes

Joint Health Amino Acids: 5/5

Collagen Per Serving

10 g

Reasons To Buy

Boswellia Serrata as well as other anti-inflammatory ingredients, Type II collagen, complete amino acid profile for joint health.

Reasons To Avoid

The extra ingredients are helpful for joint health specifically, but not necessarily other systems of the body.

Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen wins for best collagen for joint health because of the specialized ingredients added to the supplement that helps reduce inflammation, a primary cause of joint pain. Ingredients like turmeric, boswellia serrata, black pepper, and ashwagandha support joint health and anti-inflammation, making this supplement a one-stop shop for complete joint health. It also has type II collagen, which is the joint health collagen.  It is sourced from both chicken and cows, and also has types I and II collagen that help with skin, hair, and nails. 

Because Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen is so specifically formulated to help with joint health, it might be overkill for general collagen. It also lacks types IV and V, and marine collagen, which helps with other important functions in the body. The extra ingredients are obviously helpful for joint health, but you’ll need to make sure none of the ingredients interact with other supplements or prescriptions. If you are looking for collagen solely focused on joint health, this is your best bet.

#2: Xyngular Complete Collagen: Joint Health And More!

Complete Collagen from Xyngular is actually complete for gut health. Complete Collagen has it all—multiple sources of collagen, it’s hydrolyzed and it has vitamin C (28% of your daily value, in fact), and a good flavor

Collagen Specifications

Collagen Amount: 10 g

Protein Amount:  9 g

Gluten-Free: Yes

Multi-Sourced: Yes

Multiple Types: Yes

Hydrolyzed Collagen: Yes

Vitamin C: Yes

Taste: 4.5/5

Price: $$$$  $2.17 per serving, $65 for 30 servings

Accessibility: Have to order via distributor or website.

Type II Collagen: Yes

Joint Health Amino Acids: 5/5

Collagen Per Serving

10 g

Reasons To Buy

Complete amino acid profile for joint health, has types I, II, III, IV, and V collagen, sourced from marine, bovine, and chicken, the best for meeting all of your collagen needs.

Reasons To Avoid

Not on Amazon, but easy to set up an account to buy on their website.

Primal Harvest has the best collagen specifically formulated for joint health, but in some ways that hurt the product— it’s so focused on joint health they miss some of the other benefits a collagen supplement can have on all areas of the body. That’s why Xyngular’s Complete Collagen comes in at a close second. It has all the amino acids and types of collagen specifically for joint health, but it also has more types and amino acids to address other concerns like gut health, weight loss, mood stability, and more. 

Plus, it comes in unflavored and pina colada flavors, making it easier to add to more beverages. Complete Collagen is the way to go if you want collagen that addresses joint health with type II collagen and amino acids that help with joints but also help digestion, mood, weight, and immunity.

#3: You Theory Joint Collagen Pills: An Inexpensive Option For Basic Joint Health

If you are looking for collagen in pill form that has joint health-specific ingredients, type II collagen, and is very inexpensive, this is your collagen

Collagen Specifications

Collagen Amount: 600 MG

Gluten-Free: Yes

Multi-Sourced: Yes

Multiple Types: Yes

Hydrolyzed Collagen: Yes 

Vitamin C: No

Taste: NA

Price: $18.99 for 60 servings ($0.31/Servings)

Accessibility: Available on Amazon

Type II Collagen: Yes

Joint Health Amino Acids: 4/5

Collagen Per Serving

600 mg

Reasons To Buy

Very reasonable price, comes in pill form, has Boswellia for anti-inflammation.

Reasons To Avoid

Most people prefer powdered collagen, doesn’t have all the amino acids for joint health, and has no vitamin C.

If you are looking for collagen in pill form that has joint health-specific ingredients, type II collagen, and is very inexpensive, this is your collagen. But take all of that with a grain of salt— while it might be a cheaper option and you might prefer pill form, Youtheory Joint Collagen Pills don’t have cysteine, an amino acid that helps with joint health. Xyngular’s Complete Collagen and Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen both have cysteine, so if you want a complete amino acid profile for joint health opt for one of those. 

Additionally, these pills are definitely larger than a standard pill, so if you have difficulty swallowing pills try powdered collagen.  However, this is a solid choice if you are looking for an inexpensive way to try collagen to improve your joint health, but if you don’t see results try collagen that has all the amino acids necessary for joint health.

#4: Vital Proteins Collagen: Missing Key Features, But Solid Collagen Overall

Vital Proteins Original Collagen Peptides is a great runner-up to Xyngular’s Complete Collagen. It’s a little less expensive and easier to get (available on Amazon)

Collagen Specifications

Collagen Amount: 20 g

Protein Amount: 18 g

Gluten-Free: Yes

Multi-Sourced: No

Multiple Types: Yes

Hydrolyzed Collagen: Yes

Vitamin C: Yes

Taste: 3/5

Price: $42.30 for 28 servings ($1.51/Serving)

Accessibility: Available on Amazon

Type II Collagen: No

Joint Health Amino Acids: 4/5

Collagen Per Serving

20 g

Reasons To Buy

Has vitamin C, hydrolyzed for easy digestion, higher amounts of collagen and protein, multiple flavors to choose from.

Reasons To Avoid

No type II collagen, missing arginine amino acid, only bovine as a source.

Vital Proteins Collagen is a well-known brand when it comes to collagen, and while it’s got a lot of the features we look for in collagen products, it doesn’t have quite the right profile to make it a great option for joint health. Of course, any collagen is better than no collagen when it comes to joint health— collagen is the glue that holds our body together, and adding that in any form will help. But without type II collagen and without the amino acid Arginine, you won’t get the same joint support. 

Vital Proteins Collagen is a decent choice, especially if you are primarily looking for collagen that helps with hair, skin, and nails and only offers some benefits to other systems in the body. Additionally, Vital Proteins Collagen is a good choice for those who are allergic to chicken or fish. But if you aren’t allergic to chicken or fish, and you really want to improve your joint health, opt for one of our top choices.

#5: Life Extension NT2 Collagen: A Hard Pill To Swallow (Literally And Figuratively)

This collagen product had potential, but when it came down to the details of the product we found it lacking.

Collagen Specifications

Collagen Amount: 10 g

Protein Amount: Not listed

Gluten-Free: Yes

Multi-Sourced: No

Multiple Types: No

Hydrolyzed Collagen: No

Vitamin C: No

Taste: NA

Price: $24.50 for 60 servings ($ 0.41/ Serving)

Accessibility: Available on Amazon

Type II Collagen: Yes

Joint Health Amino Acids: ?/5

Collagen Per Serving

10 g

Reasons To Buy

Very inexpensive, comes in pill form, easily accessible.

Reasons To Avoid

Only has type II collagen, no listed amino acids, no listed protein content, large pill.

This collagen product had potential, but when it came down to the details of the product we found it lacking. The pill is large and hard to swallow, so we don’t recommend this product if you already struggle to swallow pills. We also scoured the internet to find the amino acid profile, but when we looked on their site they literally said that the NT2 collagen material is not analyzed for this content.

That is pretty surprising to us; we want to make sure that if we are taking a collagen supplement we know the amino acid profile, as the amino acids are what actually create the binding or “glue” in our bodies. We also couldn’t find the protein amount, which is important for customers to know when they take a supplement. While we like that the product has type II collagen, it seems like a waste to take a collagen supplement that only has one type when all types are beneficial for different systems in the body. With a little more information and a smaller pill, this product might be easier to swallow.

Collagen And Your Joints

As you age, your body produces less collagen on its own, and remember, collagen makes up a third of the protein in your body and is the glue that holds us together. Type II collagen in particular is crucial for articular cartilage or the tissue that lays over the end of your bones where they connect to other bones. Articular cartilage helps your joints bend, glide, and move smoothly. 

Without collagen, your articular cartilage can’t do its job of helping bones glide along each other, which leads to joint pain. Natural wear and tear from aging, weight gain, illness, and disease can reduce your articular cartilage, leading to pain which makes it difficult to do daily tasks, let alone exercise. If you take the right type of collagen (type II) with the right amino acid profile, your body can start to incorporate that collagen and help repair and replenish your articular cartilage. 

Athletes in particular benefit from collagen that boosts joint health, as they tend to be harder on their bodies in general, but specifically joints. Additionally, women have thinner cartilage and smaller joint surfaces than men and are more likely to experience rheumatoid arthritis, so adding collagen designed to improve joint function could be particularly helpful. Joint health is one of the main reasons collagen is such a powerhouse supplement, and by adding it to your health routine you could be improving your mobility for decades to come. 

How To Effectively Take Collagen For Joint Health

When you start taking collagen supplements, you might have to figure out your favorite way to take it through trial and error. Some people prefer to add it to their morning beverages, especially hot drinks like coffee or tea. Adding it to baked goods, scrambled eggs, and yogurt, or mixing it with cold drinks are also great ways to easily incorporate collagen into your routine. If you can take your collagen with other foods that boost joint health like brazil nuts, sesame seeds, broccoli, sunflower seeds, soybeans, chickpeas, and lentils, you will likely notice results faster. 

You need anywhere from 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen to see results, but for joint health specifically, look for collagen supplements that have at least 10 grams. If you are trying to make sure you are getting the full benefit of collagen for joint health, make sure that your collagen has vitamin C as it is crucial for your body to use the collagen you take. 

Why Your Joint Health Matters

You don’t know the importance of joint health until you don’t have it. We’ve all had days where we tweaked an ankle or our knees feel particularly tender, and the idea that you could live with that kind of pain for years is daunting. Painful joints aren’t just painful, though. When you experience joint pain you are less likely to exercise, more likely to experience negative mental health, and gain weight. 

Painful joints have huge ramifications for your overall health and well-being, not to mention your quality of life. You don’t want to lose mobility or function early in life, but poor joint health can lead to less independence earlier in life, not to mention disease, illness, and poor mental health. Give yourself the gift of a longer, more active life by incorporating collagen into your diet. Your 95-year-old self will thank you! 

Editor’s Choice: Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen

With so many collagen options on the market, finding one specially formulated for joint health is not an easy task, but our team dug into our research and found that Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen is the best collagen for targeting joint health. With extra ingredients to reduce inflammation and multiple types of collagen (including type II, the joint collagen type!) this is the best product to improve your joint health. Try Primal Harvest Primal Flex Collagen and experience life with healthy joints!

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