By Justin Kalafat
Hey y’all – Let me talk to you about collagen…
If you want to identify the “best” collagen type for an active lifestyle, it depends on the product’s goal (performance, recovery, or joint health). However, most sports nutrition formulas focus on Type I collagen or a Type I + III blend, with Type II sometimes added for joint-specific formulas. Here’s a practical breakdown:
Type I Collagen
- Main collagen type in tendons & ligaments
- Supports connective tissue strength
- Helps with injury prevention & recovery
- Common in collagen peptide powders
Type I collagen makes up about 90% of the body’s collagen. It is the most relevant collagen for strength athletes and other active individuals, as tendons and ligaments depend heavily on it. Most hydrolyzed collagen peptides used in sports nutrition come primarily from bovine or marine Type I collagen.
Type II Collagen
- Supports joint cushioning
- Helps maintain mobility & flexibility
- May reduce exercise-related joint discomfort
Type III Collagen — Supports tissue repair and is commonly paired with Type I because it is found in muscles, blood vessels, ligaments, and connective tissues. Benefits for athletes: it helps with post-workout recovery.
Specialized Ingredients
There are hydrolyzed bioactive collagen peptides optimized for joint and cartilage health, as well as collagen ingredients developed as specialized blends. These ingredients target specific areas of collagen supplementation.
FORTIGEL® focuses on joint cartilage, joint discomfort, and overall cartilage support. Its peptides are designed to stimulate chondrocytes (cartilage cells), encouraging the production of cartilage collagen and proteoglycans
Typical benefits: Supports cartilage regeneration, improves joint comfort, enhances mobility, and flexibility
Best used in joint health supplements, sports nutrition recovery formulas, and mobility products for active aging.
TENDOFORTE® targets tendons and ligaments, working to enhance connective tissue strength and aid in injury prevention. Its peptides stimulate tenocytes (tendon cells) to increase collagen synthesis within tendon tissue.
Typical benefits: supports tendon strength, improves ligament resilience, may reduce risk of connective tissue injury
Best used in sports performance supplements, products for runners, lifters, & high-impact athletes, injury recovery formulas.
The takeaway: Stand-alone collagen formulas do exist, but Type I is usually the core of blended active-lifestyle products. Type II and Type III are added to enhance the product into more specific formulations.
Disclaimer: These statements reflect my personal opinions and do not represent the views of my employer.