A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis looked at what published research says about undenatured type II collagen (UC-II) and knee osteoarthritis. The review searched the medical literature through June 2024 and brought together 17 articles on the topic, offering one of the more complete pictures to date of how this specific ingredient performs across multiple studies.

What the research looked at

The authors focused on undenatured type II collagen, a form of collagen that keeps its natural, non-denatured structure rather than being broken down into smaller fragments. This matters because UC-II is thought to work differently from other joint ingredients: instead of supplying raw material for the body to rebuild cartilage, it is used at a very small daily dose — about 40 mg — and is believed to act through the immune system, in a process researchers call oral tolerance. The review pooled results from the 17 identified studies to see whether this mechanism translated into measurable symptom changes in people with knee osteoarthritis.

What it found

Across the pooled studies, undenatured type II collagen produced significant decreases in three of the standard measures used to track knee osteoarthritis: WOMAC pain scores, WOMAC stiffness scores, and WOMAC physical-function scores. WOMAC is a widely used questionnaire that scores how much pain, stiffness, and difficulty with daily movement a person experiences. Alongside these score changes, the reviewed studies also reported improvements in function, range of motion, and quality of life over the short to mid term. Importantly, UC-II was reported to be safe and well tolerated throughout the body of research included in the review.

What it means (and the limits)

These findings support undenatured type II collagen as a joint-care ingredient with a reasonable safety profile and a distinct mode of action from other collagen types, working through a small daily dose and an immune-mediated pathway rather than as a structural building block. That said, a systematic review is only as strong as the studies feeding into it, and the authors themselves note that results still vary between individuals — not everyone responds to the same degree, and the improvements described are short- to mid-term rather than a demonstrated cure. As with any joint supplement, undenatured type II collagen should be viewed as one part of a broader approach to knee health, not a replacement for medical evaluation or treatment of osteoarthritis.

Sources: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09581596.2025.2588891 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40253594/

Dual-action joint collagen

Mafsal Riyadi combines the two collagen types most studied for joints — high-tripeptide hydrolyzed collagen and undenatured type II collagen — in one licensed dietary supplement (EDA reg. no. 14711/2026). Research about ingredient categories is general and is not a claim about any individual product.

Learn about Mafsal Riyadi

This is a plain-language summary of published research for general education. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation, and individual studies have limitations. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.