UC-II® Undenatured Type II Collagen for Supplements

Significantly decreased post-physical activity joint discomfort¹

Improved knee extension by 10% compared with baseline in the UC-II® group²

15X better range of motion when compared to placebo
(3.23 degrees vs. 0.21 degrees)³

Empower motion for life with UC-II® undenatured type II collagen

Today’s consumers are seeking solutions that support joint comfort, mobility, and an active lifestyle—key elements of maintaining wellness as they age.

As the most researched undenatured type II collagen brand,* UC-II® undenatured type II collagen helps brands tap into the longevity market with clinically proven joint comfort, flexibility, and mobility support—all via one small daily dose of 40 mg/day.

* As of January 2025

Product features

Unique mechanism of action—helps support the body’s natural cartilage repair process and promotes normal building of new cartilage.^1-3
Low dose—excellent consumer convenience with just one small 40 mg daily. ^4-7
Formulation friendly—can be formulated in a wide range of in-demand dosage forms. ^*8
* Not all dosage forms are available in all regions/countries due to regulatory restrictions

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, these statements have not been evaluated by any competent authority, including the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This is business-to-business information intended for food and supplement producers, and is not intended for the final consumer. This information is based on our own research and development work and is, to the best of our knowledge, reliable. However, Lonza does not assume any liability of risk involved in the use of this information, as conditions or use are beyond our control. Manufacturers should check local regulatory status of any claims according to the intended use of their products and are solely responsible for the marketing of their finished products in accordance with all applicable laws.

Premium ingredient that helps you differentiate in the longevity market

We are committed to providing high-quality ingredients and formulations, as evident by our NSF GMP Registration Program Requirements of NSF/ANSI 173, Section 8 which includes FSMA and cGMP (21 CFR 111, 21 CFR 117), as well as our NutraStrong™ Collagen Verified certification as of August 2025.

Product features

Also available in different grade:

UC-II® Pets
UC-II® Halal

* Grade availability differs by region

The most researched brand of undenatured type II collagen

Backed by more than 20 studies over two decades, UC-II® undenatured type II collagen supports joint health and mobility—factors that contribute to long-term wellness and active lifestyles.

Clinical research has found that a 40 mg daily dose of UC-II® undenatured type II collagen improved joint flexibility by 3.23 degrees, 15 times more than placebo—helping joints feel 10 years younger.⁵

Supplementation also reduced joint discomfort during daily physical activities and helped people to walk a quarter of a mile more each day.⁶

Brands can leverage these clinically backed benefits to develop innovative solutions that help consumers move better, so they can live better.

Product features

Supports joint flexibility and comfort
Helps joints feel 10 years younger
Helps consumers meet their daily step goals

Fast-track to market success

Get ahead and stay ahead of evolving longevity and joint health trends with UC-II® undenatured type II collagen and Lonza CHI’s full suite of concept-to-market Innovation Services

With unmatched expertise across R&D, regulatory, quality assurance, and product development, we can help you unlock new markets and launch products with speed and success.

Explore our Innovation Services to discover why we are the Innovator’s Choice.

Learn more

Service features

Comprehensive R&D support
Unmatched regulatory expertise
Dedicated customer support teams

Flex your formulation creativity across a multitude of applications

With UC-II® undenatured type II collagen, brands can create science backed joint health solutions that that support mobility and active lifestyles in a variety of formats— appealing to a broad range of consumer demographics and preferences.

Odorless, with a neutral taste, and effective at a uniquely low dose (40 mg/day), UC-II® undenatured type II collagen is a versatile, formulation-friendly solution for a variety of innovative dosage forms, including capsules, powders, gummies, and functional foods and beverages.⁷

Plus, thanks to its efficacy at a low dose and formulation versatility, UC-II® undenatured type II collagen can be combined with other ingredients to develop multi-benefit products that support joint health, mobility, and an active lifestyle.

Product features

Odorless, neutral taste, low dose
Ideal for diverse dosage forms and in multi-ingredient formulations

Drive differentiation in healthy aging with UC-II® undenatured type II collagen

Get ahead and stay ahead of evolving trends in the joint health and longevity market with with UC-II® undenatured type II collagen.

With proven efficacy at a convenient low dose of just 40 mg/day, this odorless and neutral tasting ingredient fits seamlessly into diverse dosage formats and multi-ingredient formulations.

Plus, choose from a wide range of Capsugel® dosage forms to deliver both functional and experiential benefits.

Tap into the longevity market—request a UC-II® sample and explore versatile formulation opportunities for joint health and broader wellness goals.

Request a sample

Helps joints feel 10 years younger

Shown to increase knee flexibility by 3.23 degrees, 15x more than placebo, equivalent to rejuvenation of joint function by a decade.^{5, 9}

Increases step-count by 1/4 mile per day

Healthy adults taking UC-II® undenatured type II collagen walked 747 more daily steps than those receiving placebo, about a quarter of a mile per day. ^{6, 7}

Decreases knee discomfort during daily physical activities

Helping people keep doing the things they love⁶—whether that’s playing with grandchildren and walks around the block, or daily runs and weekend hikes.

UC-II® undenatured type II collagen is the next generation joint health ingredient, clinically studied to support joint comfort, flexibility, and mobility^4-6 —helping consumers stay active as they age.

Supporting Lifelong Movement with a Smarter Joint Health Collagen

UC-II® undenatured type II collagen is the next generation joint health ingredient, clinically studied to help maintain joint comfort and flexibility and mobility in healthy, active adults^{1-3, 6}.

Unlike hydrolyzed collagen which requires a large daily dose (up to 20,000 mg a day) and glucosamine and chondroitin, UC-II® undenatured type II collagen supports joint health with just one small 40 mg dose per day^1-6.

Clinically-proven benefits

The most researched brand of undenatured type II collagen*

Low dose

Unsurpassed consumer convenience with just one small 40 mg daily dose

Unique mechanism of action

Triggers the immune system to build joint cartilage to help support the body's natural cartilage repair process and promotes building new joint cartilage^**4,5

Formulation innovation

Works across a wide range of in-demand dosage forms⁷

* As of January 2025
** Animal studies suggest that the likely mechanism of action is that it promotes normal inflammatory response while helping to support cartilage regeneration

UC-II® undenatured type II collagen triggers the immune system to build joint cartilage to help support the body's natural cartilage repair process and promotes building new joint cartilage^**

Undenatured type II collagen's structure is uniquely preserved in the UC-II® ingredient using a patented, low-temperature processing method.

Epitopes are the bioactive regions that allow undenatured type II collagen to bind to the Peyer's patches in the gut and induce the oral tolerance process.

The three dimensional shape of undenatured type II collagen preserves the bioactive regions called epitopes that induce the oral tolerance process.

Undenatured type II collagen is resistant to gastric acid and digestive enzymes, allowing it to retain the three dimensional shape and to preserve the epitopes.

In the Media

UC-II in the market

Glucosamine Chondroitin

Doctors Best

BUY NOW

UC-II® Complex

Gold Nutrition

BUY NOW

Artilyra®

LYRAPHARMA

BUY NOW

UC-II® 40mg

HSN - ESSENTIALSERIES

BUY NOW

UC-II® 40mg

Healthy Origins

BUY NOW

Artiok®

bioksan

BUY NOW

Instaflex® Advanced

BUY NOW

Kolagen UC-II®

Kenay

BUY NOW

UC-II® Natives Kollagen

Pharma Vital GmbH

BUY NOW

UC-II® Advanced Joint Relief

Now Foods

BUY NOW

UC-II® Joint Relief

Now Foods

BUY NOW

Move Free® Ultra Triple Action

Schiff

BUY NOW

UC-II® Type 2 Collagen

BUY NOW

Bio Medical Pharma Licur Flex

BUY NOW

Flexiforce® forte

Sensilab

BUY NOW

Motion Support+

almagea®

BUY NOW

Build-Your-Joints

Good Routine

BUY NOW

Zade Vital

Zade Vital UC-II®

BUY NOW

Anti

Oscar Duo®

BUY NOW

Mercana

Universal Agency "Pro-Pharma" LLC

BUY NOW

Kolagen 2 Vitamin C

Nutrilab

BUY NOW

Mdrive

Joint

BUY NOW

Sport Collagen Complex Move

Nutrispoint

BUY NOW

Active Move-Fast-Acting Joint Relief

Golden Tree Nutrition

BUY NOW

Omega Cyclo Mussel Plus

Bricker Labs

BUY NOW

JointGuard® Ultra

BUY NOW

Related Offerings

Carnipure® L-carnitine

Discover the science-backed benefits of our Carnipure® L-carnitine ingredient for energy production, sports nutrition, infant and clinical nutrition...

Learn more

ResistAid® Arabinogalactan

Elevate your immunity supplement offering with ResistAid® arabinogalactan, clinically-proven to support immune health.

Learn more

Carnifeed® and Carniking® L-carnitine

Discover the science-backed benefits of our Carnifeed® and Carniking® L-carnitine ingredients for companion and production animals

Learn more

Health Ingredients

Explore Lonza’s science-backed health ingredients for human and animal nutrition. Your trusted supplier of specialty supplement ingredients.

Learn more

Capsules & Health Ingredients

Related Insights

Visit Knowledge Center

Brochure

Quality at Every Step

Our Capsugel® capsules are manufactured under the strictest quality control measures in the...

Webinar (on-demand)

NBR Roundtable On-Demand: Sports & Active Nutrition

This expert-led discussion brings together leaders from Lonza, Rubicon Bridge, and Sensient to...

Poster

Lipid Formulations in Customized Enteric Capsules Show Promising Results For Oral GLP-1 RA Delivery

Poster presentation delivered at the Controlled Release Society (CRS) Annual Meeting,...

PCcaps_Global_Thumbnail_Blog_Illustration for blog post on PCcaps capsules and key features

Article

Pre-Clinical Studies in Rodents: Challenges and the Capsugel® PCcaps® and Capsugel® Enprotect® Size...

Challenges in Pre-Clinical Oral Drug Delivery Pre-clinical studies are essential for evaluating...

Brochure

Capsugel® Plantcaps® Pullulan Capsules – Performance Meets Consumer Preference

Capsugel® Plantcaps® immediate-release capsules deliver a powerful combination of plant-based appeal...

Knowledge Center Image - On-Demand Expert Sessions from CRS Tech Forum

Webinar (on-demand)

CRS Tech Forum Presentations On-Demand: Innovations in Oral Delivery of New Drug Modalities

This expert-led session explores the latest advancements in oral delivery systems for emerging drug...

Article

Innovation in Action: Highlights from Two Inspiring Events at the Innovaform® Accelerator Center

At the Innovaform® Accelerator, we’re commited to advancing drug delivery through collaboration and...

White paper

Advancing Oral Drug Delivery: The Innovation Behind Capsugel® Enprotect® Capsule

Oral drug delivery remains one of the most widely used and preferred administration routes, valued...

Visit Knowledge Center

Citations

¹ Yaremenko et al. (2021). Efficacy, tolerance and influence on cartilage metabolism of undenatured collagen type II UC-II (Mercana) in knee OA. PAIN, JOINTS, SPINE, 11(3), 5-12.

² Sahin, E., et al. (2023). The effect of oral administration of undenatured type II collagen on monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in young and old rats. Scientific reports, 13(1), 6499

³ Bagi, C. M., et al. (2017). Oral administration of undenatured native chicken type II collagen (UC-II) diminished deterioration of articular cartilage in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 25(12), 2080-2090.

⁴ Lugo, J.P., et al. (2015) Efficacy and tolerability of an undenatured type II collagen supplement in modulating knee osteoarthritis symptoms: a multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Nutrition journal, 15, 1-15.

⁵ Schön, C., et al. (2022). UC-II Undenatured Type II Collagen for Knee Joint Flexibility: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study. Journal of integrative and complementary medicine, 28(6), 540–548.

⁶ Knaub, K., et al. (2022). UC-II® undenatured type II collagen reduces knee joint discomfort and improves mobility in healthy subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Journal of Clinical Trials. 12(1):1000492

⁷ Pates, et al. (2023). UC-II® undenatured type II collagen data show retention during functional food and beverage prototype processing. Data Br, 48, 109216.

⁸ Soucie, J. M., et al. (2011). Range of motion measurements: reference values and a database for comparison

Empower motion for life with UC-II® undenatured type II collagen

Product features

Premium ingredient that helps you differentiate in the longevity market

Product features

The most researched brand of undenatured type II collagen

Product features

Fast-track to market success

Service features

Flex your formulation creativity across a multitude of applications

Product features

Drive differentiation in healthy aging with UC-II® undenatured type II collagen

UC-II® undenatured type II collagen is the next generation joint health ingredient, clinically studied to support joint comfort, flexibility, and mobility4-6 —helping consumers stay active as they age.

Supporting Lifelong Movement with a Smarter Joint Health Collagen

Clinically-proven benefits

Low dose

Unique mechanism of action

Formulation innovation

In the Media

UC-II in the market

Citations

UC-II® undenatured type II collagen is the next generation joint health ingredient, clinically studied to support joint comfort, flexibility, and mobility^4-6 —helping consumers stay active as they age.