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CSA Statement on 2025 Collagen Meta-Analysis

CSA Statement on 2025 Collagen Meta-Analysis

Frequently, when a new eye-catching study is published, it can make one wonder if there’s a choreographed pattern or an agenda that is pre-set. Sometimes, the findings may misinterpret important data or overstate an actual impact, underscoring the importance of careful analysis and clear presentation of results in research. This is something that is increasingly forgotten in our clickbait-driven, sensationalized society.  

 

This past May, a study from Myung and Park was the latest spark attempting to light fires, with LinkedIn commentary claiming it was the final nail in the coffin for the collagen industry. But before we jump to conclusions, let’s all take a deep breath and agree that sensational claims need solid data. Let’s dive in and check a few facts.  

 

While the overall analysis does find collagen supplementation is beneficial and supportive for skin health parameters, which agrees with the overall body of literature, the attention-grabbing claim in the Myung & Park paper is their subgroup analysis. Here, the authors suggest collagen supplementation only shows positive results in studies funded by industry – a serious statement, and one that deserves scrutiny. Unfortunately for the authors, it doesn’t take long for cracks to begin to emerge, and when we start at the very source of their arguments, funding classifications, the data doesn’t hold up. 

 

For instance: 

  • Choi et al. (2014) was flagged as industryinfluenced, but in reality received no direct funding. The study did use collagen peptides supplied by Amorepacific Co. (via their R&D center), and frankly, that’s not a problem. When industry provides materials (rather than cash), it can actually enhance reproducibility by ensuring future researchers have access to the same test substances.
  • Sugihara et al. (2015), Inoue et al. (2016), Tak et al. (2021), and Seong et al. (2024) were all marked as independent, despite clear company affiliations or support.

 

When you’re basing conclusions on funding bias, getting the funding wrong in multiple studies undercuts the core argument, and it’s not a minor technicality, especially if you cite five (5) studies that are not industry influenced and two-thirds of them in fact are.  

There are also several data inaccuracies that raise questions about the overall reliability of the meta-analysis: 

  • Yoon et al. (2014) was reported in the meta-analysis as using 0.75 g of collagen per day, however, participants actually consumed four capsules of hydrolyzed collagen per day, resulting in a total daily dose of 3 g. 
  • Lin et al. (2021) was reported in the meta-analysis as using 50 g daily; however, it was actually 50 ml of a liquid collagen drink containing about 5.5 g of collagen peptides.
  • Guadanhim et al. was labeled as bovine collagen only, though the source was a bovine/porcine blend.
  • Seong et al. (2024) was reported in the meta-analysis as using a dose of 2.5 g /day of collagen. However, upon confirmation with the ingredient composition of the original article, only 2 g of low molecular collagen peptide obtained from fish scales were used. 
  • Lee et al. (2023) was reported in the meta-analysis as using a dose of 1.65 g fish collagen per tablet, based on the abstract and conclusion of the original article. However, upon reviewing the study schedule, the original article indicates that participants were instructed to consume four tablets containing 1.65 g of collagen peptides, once daily.  This suggests a total daily dose of 6.6 g, not 1.65 g as originally reported.

  

Additional sourcing and duration errors add to the picture: 

  • Koizumi et al. (2018) misidentified the collagen source as general fish collagen, which can be a blend of type I and II collagen, when it was specifically from fish scales, a type I only source.
  • Bolke et al. (2019) was described as a 16-week intervention, but the actual supplementation period was 12 weeks, followed by a 4-week observation.

The inconsistencies in funding, dosing, sourcing, and duration not only cloud the interpretation of the results, but they also compromise the study’s conclusions. It’s important to recognize that industry-funded research is a major contributor to the scientific landscape, with estimates indicating that industry funding accounts for 50-70% of all dietary supplement research.12 Additionally, in their subgroup analysis, the authors imply that industryfunded studies are inherently lower quality. But the actual Jadad scores tell a different story. Out of the industrysupported trials, only one was openlabel and nonblinded3, and a second was one point under the highquality threshold with a Jadad score of 2 (on a 1–5 scale that rewards proper randomization, blinding, and followup). Every other industrybacked study scored 3- 5, well within the range of rigorous clinical research. If anything, these scores suggest that the industryfunded work in this metaanalysis was at least as methodologically sound as its “independent” counterparts. Therefore, when the authors claim that all industry-funded research is biased and inaccurate, it is quite disingenuous. 

The presentation of this meta-analysis highlights why the Collagen Stewardship Alliance (CSA) is a strong advocate for third-party certifications that guarantee ingredient quality and doses that are backed up with human-controlled trials. CSA fully supports the Collagen Verified program under the NutraStrong™ brand implemented by SGS-Nutrasource. This program consists of a comprehensive document review process to elevate ingredients and brands, verifying source, dose, and adequate human research.  

Let’s all then agree, one meta-analysis is not settled science. More research is certainly needed, but in the meantime, we’ll keep supporting the collagen ecosystem, with higher standards, less bias and more transparency.  

Learn more about the NutraStrong™ Collagen Verified program!

Bioiberica Achieves Collagen Verified™ Certification, Advancing Global Transparency Standards

Bioiberica Achieves Collagen Verified™ Certification, Advancing Global Transparency Standards

The Collagen Stewardship Alliance is proud to recognize Bioiberica as the latest company to achieve the NutraStrong® Collagen Verified™ certification. This marks a significant step forward in our shared mission to raise the bar on quality, transparency, and integrity in the global collagen marketplace. This milestone reflects Bioiberica’s continued commitment to science-backed innovation, traceability, and responsible sourcing in the collagen space.

 

Bioiberica certified NutraStrong™ Collagen Verification

 
Spanish company Bioiberica, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is the first collagen producer to receive NutraStrong™ Collagen Verification certification from SGS Nutrasource. The certification covers native (undenatured) type II collagen, Collavant® n2, intended to support joint health at a dose of 40 mg/day.
 
In the increasingly saturated collagen market, this ‘label’ is intended to help brands differentiate their products containing Collavant® n2, which meets strict standards for purity, sourcing integrity, production and claim substantiation.
 
The NutraStrong™ Collagen Verified programme is the first independent certification system dedicated to assessing and verifying the identity, source, safety and quality of collagen ingredients and products – ensuring that consumers get what they see on the label. To be complete, certifications of this type have already been developed for omega-3 and probiotics. But never for collagen.
 
The NutraStrong™ Collagen Verified programme has been approved by the Collagen Stewardship Alliance (CSA).
 
As the first global brand to achieve Collagen Verified status – backed by the Collagen Stewardship Alliance – Bioiberica is raising industry standards for collagen quality and consumer confidence,’ said Kevin Yan, Vice President of Product Certifications at SGS Nutrasource.
 
Second Collagen Symposium at Vitafoods Europe
 
On the first day of Vitafoods Europe, Bioiberica hosted the second Collagen Symposium (the first edition took place in 2023). A round table brought together industry experts (Len Monheit, Executive Director of the Collagen Stewardship Alliance, Elizabeth Thundow, Vice President of Management Consulting at Kline & Company, David Foreman, pharmacist and natural health expert, and Daniel Martínez-Puig, Director of Research and Development in Human Health at Bioiberica).
 
During the symposium, many topics were discussed, including the latest scientific data, the different types of collagen (including plant-based collagen) and the main opportunities for innovation.
 
‘There is confusion in the collagen market,’ emphasised Monica Gomez Navarro, Branded Ingredients Marketing Manager at Bioiberica, during a discussion with Actif’s Mag at the Palafolls production site. ‘This confusion is prompting us to develop tools and data that will help demystify this raw material.’ She cited data from a 2024 survey of around 100 visitors to Vitafoods Europe. 84% of them knew that collagen is effective against joint problems. But half did not know what type of collagen is involved.
 
To solve this problem, we need to develop cooperation between market players, provide more scientific evidence and be transparent,’ concludes Monica Gomez Navarro, ‘in order to protect consumers.
 
Branded ingredients
 
Collavant® n2 is a source of native (undenatured) type II collagen that promotes joint health at a convenient low dose of 40 mg/day.
 
Other active ingredients are based on hyaluronic acid: Dermial® (60 mg/day) for skin health, Mobilee® (80 mg/day) for joint and muscle support, and DAOgest (4.2 mg/serving) for histamine intolerance.
 
Half a century of innovation
 
« This year, we are celebrating 50 years of scientific expertise, sustainable progress and the production of world-class ingredients of biological origin. We have become the largest Western producer of heparin, while pioneering circular economy practices for over 45 years. Our passion for science, sustainability and progress will continue to fuel our development, » concludes Antonio Vendrell, Director of Marketing and Communications at Bioiberica.
 
About Bioiberica
 
Bioiberica produces APIs (including heparin (world leader), glucosamine and chondroitin) and ingredients for nutraceuticals at its site in Palafolls (north of Barcelona).
 
Raw materials are sourced from eight other units in Europe, the USA and Brazil.
 
Bioiberica is part of the vertically integrated German family-owned Saria Group, which has developed in the processing of raw materials of animal origin. The group employs 13,000 people and has a turnover of more than €3.4 billion.

Learn more about the NutraStrong™ Collagen Verified program!

Under the Ingredient Transparency Center, Trust Transparency Center Establishes the Collagen Stewardship Alliance

Today Trust Transparency Center, under its recently formed Ingredient Transparency Center, announced the formation of the Collagen Stewardship Alliance (CSA). The CSA will steward the global collagen category, bring transparency to source/origin, mitigate marketplace confusion, identify and promote product quality parameters, engage surrounding sustainability, and protect ingredient and product integrity.

“We’ve been gathering data on collagen and collagen products for some time now, and the Ingredient Transparency initiative, as its name indicates, supports transparency in source disclosure, proper attribution of science, product quality and clarity in messaging,” notes Len Monheit, Trust Transparency Center CEO. “We are pleased to appoint a pioneer of collagen supplement research and advocate of the natural products industry, Asma Ishaq, CEO of Modere, as Chairperson of the Board.”

In a recent study conducted by Trust Transparency Center, over 87% of US supplement consumers said they had heard of collagen. And, according to Nutrition Business Journal, collagen is estimated to surpass $400M in 2022.

“Modere is excited to support this initiative for the collagen category. As collagen’s popularity has grown, there has been loose appropriation of the real science, mixed messaging regarding sources and sustainability – there’s a lot of work we will do to steward future growth,” said Asma Ishaq, Board Chairperson of the Collagen Stewardship Alliance and CEO, Modere.
 
The CSA will raise awareness of collagen, track data and insights, reach out to a broad range of associations, academia and media, and will work with government groups, the healthcare community and the industry – globally. The CSA will be led by Trust Transparency Center’s new Science & Technology Director Nathan Gray. Gray brings more than 15 years of media and science experience and expertise in food technology, nutrition science and wellness trends. He was previously Senior Editor at NutraIngredients – covering the functional food, supplements, and wellness space, and co-ran the European content team for William Reed’s Global Brands Division.

About Trust Transparency Center

Trust Transparency Center utilizes trust transparency principles to provide insights and guidance to nutritional product stakeholders in the areas of Business and Go-To-Market Strategy, Finance and M&A, Compliance and Risk Management, Strategic Services, Organizational Culture Development and Trust Transparency Coaching. The organization’s single ingredient stewardship programs establish a third-party baseline for ingredient quality, identity and appropriate category definitions and standards. To learn more, please visit TrustTransparency.com.

Media Contact

Traci Kantowski, Communications Director, Trust Transparency Center
630-923-0211 | traci@trusttransparency.com