Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Review: Our Favorite Collagen Powder

Things We Liked

• Contains multiple types of collagen in good amounts per serving
• Easily absorbable form
• Collagen sourced from responsibly-raised cattle
• It contains vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to increase collagen production and absorption
• Unflavored and easily mixes into any hot and cold beverage
• NSF-certified for Sport, ensuring ingredient purity, quality, and safety

Important Considerations

• Requires a long time of consistent use to notice benefits
• More expensive than some alternative products

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides at a Glance

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is a popular product containing type I and type III collagen sourced from grass-fed cattle, as well as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.

The collagen comes in the form of hydrolyzed collagen peptides, which is better absorbed than other forms.

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in our bodies. It provides structure and elasticity to skin, tendons, ligaments, hair, bones, and joints. Some types of collagen provide structure to organs.

The body’s production of collagen slows with age. It’s believed supplementing with collagen helps counteract this part of the aging process. Promising research also shows that collagen supplementation can support the health of skin, hair, nails, and joints and promotes a more youthful appearance.

Vital Proteins is a well-known brand that offers a full line of collagen products, including flavored and unflavored powders, capsules, ready-to-drink beverages, gummies, bars, and creamers.

How to Take It

The recommended Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides dose is 1–2 scoops (10–20 grams) per day, mixed into your choice of hot or cold beverage.

If you don’t feel a difference right away, this is normal. When starting a collagen supplement, it can take up to 6–8 weeks of taking it daily to see any results.

Also, ensure you mix the recommended dose with at least 8–12 ounces of liquid for maximum absorption.

Pricing and Buying Options

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is widely available at most stores, but here are the prices if bought directly from the brand.

Subscriptions automatically include free shipping and 15% off on all orders. Without a subscription, shipping is free on all orders over $50. Otherwise, standard shipping rates apply depending on your place of residence within the US. The brand may give you a refund if you contact the company within 30 days of receipt of the product.

SHOP VITAL PROTEINs COLLAGEN PEPTIDES

While having the convenience of a subscription directly with a brand is always great, this collagen powder is also sold at major retailers. Sometimes, you can get a better deal at Costco. Here is a price breakdown of this product at popular retailers.

Ingredients Used in This Collagen Powder

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides’ main three ingredients have promising research demonstrating that supplementation may help with the appearance of your skin and support the health of your joints and connectivity tissues (including providing relief for people experiencing early osteoarthritis). However, it’s important to remember that while studies show promise, researchers say that more studies should be done.

Below we’ll discuss each ingredient and its research:

Bovine Hide Collagen Peptides

This collagen is sourced from the hides of grass-fed cattle raised in Brazil. It’s hydrolyzed, which means the proteins have been broken down for better absorption by your body and contains type I and type III collagen peptides.

Type I collagen makes up the majority of collagen in the body and is found in skin, hair, nails, connective tissues, and bones. Type III is found in the skin, bone, and some organs. (1, 2)

Studies on oral collagen supplementation found it increases skin elasticity and hydration, which results in the diminished appearance of wrinkles. Other studies show promising results for collagen’s ability to relieve joint pain, but more research is still needed to identify optimal dosing. (3, 4)

Collagen is made up of amino acids that act as small building blocks to form proteins. Vital Proteins’ collagen powder contains 19 amino acids, 9 of which are essential (ones our bodies do not make on their own). Together they help provide an energy source, support healthy nails, skin, and hair, break down food, boost the immune system, grow and repair body tissues, and more.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a water-binding molecule found in the skin. Like collagen, the body’s production of hyaluronic acid slows with age (with dry skin and loss of plumpness being the signs of aging skin). (5)

There is adequate evidence that taking hyaluronic acid supplements may help improve skin health and support healthy joints.

One study found that daily supplementing with 120–240 milligrams of hyaluronic acid enhanced skin moisture and reduced dryness. Additionally, other studies concluded hyaluronic acid lessened knee pain, which shows some promise for the role of hyaluronic acid in joint health. (6, 7)

A serving of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides doesn’t contain as much hyaluronic acid as used in some studies. However, it may still be enough to offer some skin benefits.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that can support immune system function and protect the body from cellular damage that leads to signs of aging.

Vitamin C plays a role in improving the body’s collagen production. Specifically, studies show that vitamin C supplementation increases type I collagen production. (8, 9) Studies also show that vitamin C may benefit those experiencing early osteoarthritis. (10)

The recommended daily amount of vitamin C is 75–90 milligrams for most adults. The amount of vitamin C in a serving of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides meets most people’s daily needs. (11)

Vital Proteins Collagen Is Generally Safe

Collagen supplements are considered safe, and there are no adverse effects to report for healthy individuals. Likewise, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are well-tolerated, and side effects are rare. (4, 7, 9)

However, because Vital Proteins Collagen is made from cattle, it’s unsuitable for anyone following a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.

This collagen supplement also has an NSF certification, which adds credibility. It means that this supplement contains precisely what is disclosed on its ingredient label (and nothing more) and is free of any harmful levels of contaminants.

How Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Compares to Two Other Brands

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides has been on the market for a while and established its excellent reputation based on how helpful many consumers found it over the years. Vital Proteins’ collagen is a solid option because it provides a good amount of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C.

There are some popular alternatives out there, which we’ve selected for this comparison. For instance, NeoCell’s Super Collagen Plus offers the same ingredients as Vital Proteins but with less collagen and a slightly higher price point if comparing how much you’re paying per oz. Live Conscious Peptides offers less collagen than these two brands and does not contain vitamin C or hyaluronic acid. Still, the value for the price is great, along with an excellent return policy.

Here’s how these other collagen powders compare to Vital Proteins:

While these two brands are great options, we think Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides has the upper hand due to its higher amount of collagen, best value for the price (especially if bought at Costco), and, most significantly, it is NSF certified, which adds the highest level of third-party testing credibility.

Try Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is our favorite collagen powder. It’s third-party tested for quality and purity, contains a high dose of collagen, and additional ingredients to boost collagen production and absorption.

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