Type II collagen is found mainly in cartilage, the tissue in your joints. For generations, people have eaten bone broth, a traditional food made by simmering animal bones. Type II collagen has been tested in many joint studies, in active adults and in people with knee and hip joint conditions.
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From Anirva, the maker of Multi Collagen Complex. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
- Type II is found mainly in cartilage. It is a fiber-forming collagen [1].
- Bone broth is a traditional source. It has been valued since ancient times, and it is rich in amino acids such as glycine and proline [2].
- Three forms of type II collagen have been studied. All three come from chicken [4][6][7].
- Joint comfort and flexibility improved. In active adults, knees moved more freely [5][8]. In people with knee or hip osteoarthritis, joint pain and joint scores improved [4][6].
- Skin was studied too. Hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage reduced facial lines and wrinkles [9].
Here is what that research shows, and how type II collagen fits into Multi Collagen Complex.
Facts at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Type II collagen [1][10] |
| Chicken source in Multi Collagen Complex | Chicken bone broth collagen concentrate, one of four collagen sources [10] |
| Amount in Multi Collagen Complex | 1,600 mg of collagen from four sources, in 3 capsules a day [10] |
| Main research areas | Joint comfort, knee flexibility and joint function; skin [4][5][7][9] |
| Kinds of evidence | Trials in people, and a review of joint supplement trials [4][6][7][11] |
| Allergens in the product | Fish and egg [10] |
What is type II collagen?
Type II collagen is a fiber-forming collagen. It is made of three matching chains. It is found mainly in cartilage. It is also found in the clear gel inside the eye [1].
Bone broth: a traditional food
Bone broth is made by simmering animal bones in water [3]. People have valued it since ancient times. It is still a popular food today [2].
A 2025 review looked at what bone broth contains. It is rich in amino acids, including glutamine, glycine, proline, histidine and arginine. It also has minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and zinc [2].
Where type II collagen comes from in Multi Collagen Complex
Multi Collagen Complex uses four collagen sources: hydrolyzed bovine hide collagen peptides, chicken bone broth collagen concentrate, hydrolyzed fish collagen peptides and eggshell membrane collagen [10].
The type II collagen in the trials described here comes from chicken. Undenatured type II collagen and hydrolyzed sternal cartilage come from chicken sternum cartilage [4][6]. Hydrolyzed chicken type II collagen also comes from chicken [7]. In Multi Collagen Complex, the chicken source is chicken bone broth collagen concentrate [10].
Three forms of type II collagen in research
Studies of type II collagen use three main forms. Each one has its own research. Here is how they differ.
- Undenatured type II collagen. This form comes from chicken sternum cartilage [4]. Researchers think it works through oral tolerance, an immune response to food taken by mouth [12].
- Hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage. This form breaks the cartilage into small pieces. It keeps the other natural parts of cartilage, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid [9].
- Hydrolyzed chicken type II collagen. This form is chicken type II collagen broken down by hydrolysis [7].
Does type II collagen help joints and skin? What the research shows
Undenatured type II collagen
| Study | Who took part | Length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lugo 2016 [4] | 191 adults with knee osteoarthritis | 180 days | Overall joint score, pain, stiffness and physical function improved compared with placebo. Safety results were the same in all groups |
| Lugo 2013 [8] | 55 healthy adults with knee discomfort after exercise | 120 days | Knees straightened further than with placebo. People exercised longer before discomfort began than at the start |
| Schön 2022 [5] | 96 healthy adults aged 20–55 with joint discomfort during activity | 24 weeks | Knees bent further than with placebo. The gain was larger in people over 35 |
| Shiojima 2023 [12] | 64 healthy adults in Japan | 12 weeks | Knee flexibility, knee discomfort, walking and stair climbing improved in the collagen group |
| Möller 2026 [13] | 74 healthy adults with joint discomfort during activity | 180 days | Both groups improved. The collagen group improved sooner in pain, symptoms and quality of life. In people with more discomfort, a marker of cartilage breakdown fell with collagen |
Hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage
In a placebo-controlled trial, 80 adults with hip or knee osteoarthritis took hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage or placebo for 70 days. They had had joint pain for at least 3 months. Pain and joint scores fell compared with placebo, and physical activity improved [6].
Hydrolyzed type II collagen
In a placebo-controlled trial, 90 adults aged 40–65 with joint discomfort took hydrolyzed chicken type II collagen or placebo for 8 weeks. Most were women. They had no other health problems, and none took pain medicines. At week 4, the overall joint score fell by 36.9% with collagen and by 14.3% with placebo. Stiffness and physical activity also improved [7].
In a 24-week trial, 160 older adults with knee osteoarthritis did resistance training and took one of several products, including hydrolyzed type II collagen or placebo. Joint scores improved by a similar amount in all groups. Pain fell more with hydrolyzed type II collagen than with placebo after 14 days. At 24 weeks, the group taking chicken essence with added type II collagen had higher lean body mass than the placebo group [14].
A review of joint supplements
A 2018 review pooled 69 placebo-controlled trials. They tested supplements for hand, hip or knee osteoarthritis. Undenatured type II collagen was one of two supplements with clinically important effects on pain over the medium term. Supplements as a group had no more safety problems than placebo [11].
Skin: a study of chicken sternal cartilage
Type II collagen has also been studied for skin. In a 12-week placebo-controlled trial, 128 women aged 39–59 took hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage or placebo. Facial lines and wrinkles, including crow's feet, were reduced compared with placebo. Skin elasticity and skin collagen content rose. Skin dryness and redness fell. Skin surface water content did not differ between the groups. The supplement was well tolerated [9].
How much collagen is in Multi Collagen Complex?
Three capsules provide 1,600 mg of collagen from four sources, plus 50 mg of the DigeSEB® enzyme blend [10].
Five types of collagen from four sources
Multi Collagen Complex is a daily three-capsule collagen supplement with types I, II, III, V and X collagen from bovine hide, chicken bone broth, fish and eggshell membrane, plus the DigeSEB® enzyme blend. Every ingredient and amount is listed on the label.
See Multi Collagen ComplexIs type II collagen safe?
Type II collagen was well tolerated in the trials that reported safety. Side effects were no different from placebo [4][6]. In one trial, no harmful effects linked to the product were seen [8].
Type II collagen is one part of Multi Collagen Complex
Multi Collagen Complex is a daily three-capsule collagen supplement. It has five types of collagen (I, II, III, V and X) from four sources: bovine hide, chicken bone broth, fish and eggshell membrane. It also has the DigeSEB® enzyme blend. They were chosen to promote healthy skin, hair and nails and to support healthy bones and joints [10].
When you take Multi Collagen Complex, you are not relying on one ingredient alone.
Multi Collagen Complex is made in Phoenix, Arizona, in a cGMP-certified facility. Every ingredient is listed on the label [10].
- Take 3 capsules a day with a meal, as the directions say [15].
- Multi Collagen Complex contains fish and egg. If you have a fish or egg allergy, ask your healthcare provider before taking it [10].
- If you are pregnant or nursing, or take any medicine, ask your healthcare provider before taking Multi Collagen Complex [15].
If you are deciding
Type II collagen is found mainly in cartilage [1]. Bone broth, a traditional food, is rich in amino acids such as glycine and proline [2]. In active adults, type II collagen helped knees move more freely [5][8]. In people with knee or hip osteoarthritis, joint pain and joint scores improved [4][6]. Multi Collagen Complex includes type II collagen as one part of a five-type formula [10].
The short version
Type II collagen is found mainly in cartilage, and it has been tested in several joint trials [1][4][5][6][7]. Multi Collagen Complex includes it as one part of a formula to help support healthy joints [10].
Frequently asked questions
What is type II collagen good for?
Why is type II collagen linked with joints?
What is the difference between undenatured and hydrolyzed type II collagen?
Does type II collagen help knee flexibility?
What is bone broth?
Does type II collagen help skin?
References
- National Library of Medicine. Collagen Type II. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), descriptor D024043. https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?ui=D024043 (accessed October 26, 2026).
- Matar A, Abdelnaem N, Camilleri M. Bone broth benefits: how its nutrients fortify gut barrier in health and disease. Dig Dis Sci. 2025;70(6):1951-1961. doi:10.1007/s10620-025-08997-x. PMID: 40180691.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Collagen. The Nutrition Source. Last reviewed May 2021. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/collagen/ (accessed October 17, 2026).
- Lugo JP, Saiyed ZM, Lane NE. Efficacy and tolerability of an undenatured type II collagen supplement in modulating knee osteoarthritis symptoms: a multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Nutr J. 2016;15:14. doi:10.1186/s12937-016-0130-8. PMID: 26822714.
- Schön C, Knaub K, Alt W, et al. UC-II undenatured type II collagen for knee joint flexibility: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. J Integr Complement Med. 2022;28(6):540-548. doi:10.1089/jicm.2021.0365. PMID: 35377244.
- Schauss AG, Stenehjem J, Park J, et al. Effect of the novel low molecular weight hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage extract, BioCell Collagen, on improving osteoarthritis-related symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Agric Food Chem. 2012;60(16):4096-4101. doi:10.1021/jf205295u. PMID: 22486722.
- Mohammed A, He S. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of a hydrolyzed chicken collagen type II supplement in alleviating joint discomfort. Nutrients. 2021;13(7):2454. doi:10.3390/nu13072454. PMID: 34371963.
- Lugo JP, Saiyed ZM, Lau FC, et al. Undenatured type II collagen (UC-II®) for joint support: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;10(1):48. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-48. PMID: 24153020.
- Schwartz SR, Hammon KA, Gafner A, et al. Novel hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage extract improves facial epidermis and connective tissue in healthy adult females: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 2019;25(5):12-29. PMID: 31221944.
- Anirva. Multi Collagen Complex Supplement Facts label (image from Anirva, October 15, 2026).
- Liu X, Machado GC, Eyles JP, et al. Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(3):167-175. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333. PMID: 29018060.
- Shiojima Y, Takahashi M, Takahashi R, et al. Efficacy and safety of dietary undenatured type II collagen on joint and motor function in healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. J Am Nutr Assoc. 2023;42(3):224-241. doi:10.1080/07315724.2021.2024466. PMID: 35512781.
- Möller I, Martínez K, Terradillos-Guillén A, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of native (undenatured) type II collagen supplementation for joint health in healthy volunteers: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Nutr J. 2026;25(1):46. doi:10.1186/s12937-026-01302-0. PMID: 41787523.
- Chen CC, Chang SS, Chang CH, et al. Randomized, double-blind, four-arm pilot study on the effects of chicken essence and type II collagen hydrolysate on joint, bone, and muscle functions. Nutr J. 2023;22(1):17. doi:10.1186/s12937-023-00837-w. PMID: 36918892.
- Anirva. Multi Collagen Complex product page. https://anirva.com/pages/multi-collagen-complex (accessed October 15, 2026).
