“Collagen supplements help joint pain.”
Collagen supplements modestly ease osteoarthritis joint pain on average, though the main trials did not study other kinds of joint pain.
If you have osteoarthritis, collagen can take a little of the edge off joint pain for some people, but do not expect a big change. It is an optional add-on, not a cure.
If you try collagen, pick one clearly labeled product, decide in advance how long you will try it, and stop if your pain and daily function have not improved.
Safety note: Products may contain fish, shellfish, egg, chicken or bovine ingredients and may not suit allergies, religious restrictions or some medical diets. Supplement quality and dose can vary.
Talk to a healthcare professional if: your joint pain lasts more than several days, you have severe joint pain and swelling without a clear cause, you have a fever that is not from the flu, or you have lost 10 pounds or more without trying.
A 2024 review of 35 osteoarthritis trials rated the pain benefit moderate certainty and the function benefit high certainty, with no extra side effects. Confidence is moderate, not strong, because products, doses and results varied widely and the trials did not study other kinds of joint pain.
Collagen supplements modestly ease osteoarthritis joint pain on average, though the main trials did not study other kinds of joint pain. A 2024 review of 35 trials with 3,165 patients found a small-to-moderate improvement in pain and function compared with control groups, with no more side effects.
A 2025 review of 11 knee osteoarthritis trials with 870 people also found better pain and function scores with collagen, but results varied a lot between trials. The trials used different collagen products, doses and forms, so one product's result does not prove that another will work.
Collagen studies use specific doses and products. More is not proven to work better.
Can collagen help osteoarthritis pain?
Collagen peptides may modestly reduce joint pain for some people with osteoarthritis.
- Liang CW, Cheng HY, Lee YH, Liao CD, Huang SW. Efficacy and safety of collagen derivatives for osteoarthritis: a trial sequential meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2024;32(5):574-584. DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2023.12.010. PMID: 38218227
- Simental-Mendía M, Ortega-Mata D, Acosta-Olivo CA, et al. Effect of collagen supplementation on knee osteoarthritis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2025;43(1):126-134. DOI: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/kflfr5. PMID: 39212129
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Joint pain. Medical Encyclopedia. Review date January 14, 2026