BioCell Type II Collagen with Chondroitin and Hyaluronic Acid — NOW
Food supplement of hydrolysed type II collagen, obtained from chicken sternal cartilage, which also provides chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid naturally present in the raw material. Each two-capsule dose provides 1g of the complex.
Those looking for type II collagen in capsules usually already have a clear idea of what they want, and the difficulty lies in comparing labels that declare different things. NOW Foods' BioCell Collagen declares everything: 1g of complex per two-capsule dose, of which 570mg of hydrolysed type II collagen, 190mg of chondroitin sulphate, and 95mg of hyaluronic acid. The raw material is hydrolysed chicken sternal cartilage extract, in which these three components naturally occur together.
The main ingredient is a hydrolysed extract of chicken sternal cartilage. Hydrolysis is the process that fragments proteins into smaller peptides, and it is what allows collagen to be presented as an encapsulable powder. In this extract, type II collagen, chondroitin sulphate, and hyaluronic acid occur together in the raw material itself, and are not added separately — hence the designation of complex. The three quantities are declared independently on the label, allowing direct comparison with other products in the category.
The capsule is made of hypromellose, a cellulose derivative, and not gelatine. The formula also includes microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable-derived stearic acid, and silicon dioxide, all with a technological function of support, compression, and anti-caking. None of these are added as nutrients.
How it fits in
Within the collagen category, there are three distinct approaches that should not be confused. Collagen peptides in powder (usually type I and III, of bovine or marine origin) provide several grams per dose and are taken dissolved. Undenatured type II collagen (UC-II) comes in very small doses, on a milligram scale, and is based on a different principle of use. This product is a hydrolysed type II complex, in an intermediate position: 1g per dose, in a capsule, with the cartilage components declared individually. The choice between the three depends on the desired format and the composition sought, not on one being superior to the others.
✅ 1g of BioCell Collagen® complex per two-capsule dose, with each component quantified on the label.
✅ 570mg of hydrolysed type II collagen per dose.
✅ 190mg of chondroitin sulphate per dose.
✅ 95mg of hyaluronic acid per dose.
✅ Vegetable hypromellose capsule, without animal gelatine in the capsule.
✅ Halal certified, non-GMO, and manufactured in an Intertek GMP certified facility.
