A 6-month clinical trial tested whether daily collagen peptide supplements could help people with early-stage knee osteoarthritis feel and move better. The study included adults aged 40 to 75 who had mild to moderate joint damage. Participants were randomly given either 3,000 mg of low-molecular-weight collagen peptides (LMCP) from fish skin or a placebo. Researchers tracked pain, mobility, inflammation, and safety.

The results were clear: the collagen group saw real improvements. Pain scores dropped (−1.90 vs. +0.61; p = 0.006), physical function got better (−4.10 vs. −0.71; p = 0.035), and overall joint symptoms improved (−6.24 vs. −0.45; p = 0.028). There were no safety issues, and nearly everyone stuck with the daily supplement routine. While there were no changes in joint structure or inflammation markers over the 6 months, the symptom relief suggests LMCP could support joint health by helping cartilage function better.

The takeaway? This type of collagen supplement looks like a safe, natural option for managing knee OA symptoms, especially for people looking to avoid long-term pain medication. The study didn’t show deeper structural repair, but that likely takes more time. Researchers recommend longer trials with more tools (imaging and comparisons to drugs or exercise) to fully understand LMCP’s long-term benefits. For now, this study adds real-world support for collagen peptides as a promising piece of the joint health puzzle.