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Our Collagen Testing Methodology

Collagen supplements have gained immense popularity for their potential benefits in supporting both aesthetics and bodily functions. For one, collagen is said to promote skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines while enhancing moisture retention for a radiant complexion. Beyond the surface, it supports joint flexibility and strength, bolstering physical activity and overall well-being. Additionally, collagen is essential for maintaining the integrity of our hair and nails, contributing to a youthful and vibrant appearance. 

Despite its numerous advantages, collagen production begins to decline as early as age 30, leading to visible signs of aging such as sagging skin, joint discomfort and possibly brittle hair and nails. This natural decline underscores the importance of collagen supplementation to counteract the effects of aging and maintain optimal health and beauty.

With so many collagen products on the market, it's crucial to distinguish the effective from the ineffective. For this reason, we’ll reveal how we assess collagen supplements to provide you with the most reliable information and recommendations.

How We Score Collagen Supplements

There are countless high-quality collagen supplements on the market, so to determine which ones stand above the rest, we developed a custom Sports Illustrated Showcase multivitamin testing methodology and scoring algorithm.

Our testing methodology for collagen branches off of our broader nutrition product and supplement methodology. Each collagen supplement we review is put through our collagen scoring methodology, which grades the product on six primary categories: collagen type, hydrolyzed or not, protein per serving, cost per serving, sweeteners and certifications. Collagen supplements can also earn bonus credits that boost the overall rating. We assign each product a score of 1 out of 5 for each of the categories we test in, and these scores are then weighted based on importance and averaged to produce a cumulative score out of 5 for each product, with 1 being the lowest rating and 5 being highest.

These categories were developed in collaboration with registered dietitian and doctor of exercise physiology Chris Mohr.

Criteria We Evaluate

Collagen source

Collagen type

  • Type I: Type 1 collagen is the most abundant form of collagen in the human body and is primarily found in the skin, tendons, and bones. While it provides important structural support to these tissues, it may not address other collagen-related issues in the body, such as joint health or cartilage maintenance, so this earned lower marks.
  • Type II: Type II collagen is primarily found in cartilage, which cushions and protects joints. However, its benefits may be limited compared to collagen supplements that contain multiple types of collagen, so this type earned the same marks as solely taking a Type I collagen supplement.
  • Type III: Type III collagen is found in skin, blood vessels, and internal organs. It provides structural support to these tissues. This earned the same marks as solely taking a Type I or Type II collagen supplement.
  • Type I & II: This collagen blend offers a wide range of health benefits, but does not include collagen that supports our internal organs. This earned medium marks.
  • Type I & III: This collagen blend offers a wide range of health benefits, but does not contain cartilage collagen, which is essential for joint health. This earned medium marks.
  • Type II & III: This collagen blend offers a wide range of health benefits, but does not contain the most abundant collagen found in the human body. This type also earned medium marks.
  • Type I & II & III: This blend offers the three most abundant types of collagen found in the human body. With the inclusion of Type I, II and Type III collagen, combination collagen supplements may support skin health by improving elasticity, and hydration, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, as well as supporting your internal bodily functions. This combination earned the highest marks.

Hydrolyzed

Price per serving

Price is an important factor for consumers, and often (though not always) reflects the quality of a product. There are high-quality collagen protein products that cost below average, and relatively low-quality collagen protein products that cost more than average. Because of this potential discrepancy, this category receives less weight in the overall score.

Since we deem protein content to be the best measure of value for a collagen product, we rate each protein powder based on the price per gram of protein. Here’s the breakdown:

  • $0.30-$0.99 per serving: The highest marks are given to the most affordable collagen supplements.
  • $1.00-$1.49 per serving: This is still a relatively low cost, but edging slightly higher for those who use collagen supplements on the regular. This range earns average marks.
  • $1.50-$1.99 per serving: This price range is usually for well-established brands, and isn’t the most affordable for most people. This price range earned lower marks.
  • $2.00+ per serving: If price is a barrier, then higher than $2.00 per serving is more costly compared to some other options, which could be a challenge for many consumers. For that reason, these collagen supplements received the lowest marks.

Sweeteners

Sweeteners may improve the taste profile of a collagen powder or collagen supplement, but they don’t add nutritional value beyond sometimes being a fast-burning energy source. We prefer to see minimal sweeteners in collagen formulas, and we prefer some over others. Here's how we rate each sweetener:

  • Sugar: Added sugar is a refined carbohydrate, and an ingredient most Americans over-consume. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends limiting added sugar to no more than 10 percent of your daily calories. For a daily 2,000-calorie diet, that means no more than 200 calories per day should come from sugar (approximately 12 teaspoons). Based on research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, adult men consumed an average of 17 teaspoons of sugar per day, and women consumed 15 teaspoons per day from 2017-2018. To avoid health issues like obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, people should limit their added sugar intake. While there often isn't much added sugar in collagen supplements, limiting it as an ingredient is wise, which is why collagen formulas with refined sugar receive the lowest marks.
  • Honey: Honey is a form of added sugar. While it's a different form of added sugar, it’s still sugar, and physiologically there are few differences between the two—none of which have clinical significance. For this reason, we rate honey the same as refined sugar.
  • Agave: Similar to honey, agave is a form of added sugar with few differences from refined sugar and none that have clinical meaning. It receives the same low score as sugar and honey.
  • Maltodextrin: Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate derived from rice, corn, wheat and potato starch. Although it’s not sugar, it acts similarly in the body, so it shares the same score as all forms of sugar.
  • Dextrose: Dextrose is marketed as a high-quality alternative to sugar, but with a glycemic index of 100, it's no different than the other added sugars. It also receives the lowest score in this category.
  • Sucralose, Aspartame, Acesulfame: Artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame and acesulfame are non-nutritive, non-caloric sweeteners. They have repeatedly been shown to be safe in the research at moderate amounts. Although a recent WHO report suggested "artificial sweeteners to be possible carcinogens", the dosing that could cause concern is equal to that in approximately nine to 14 cans of diet soft drinks and a much higher dosing than what might be in a collagen supplement. Still, the lack of research on the long-term use of artificial sweeteners is the reason we give them a low score, though slightly higher than the score for sugar.
  • Erythritol, Xylitol: Erythritol and xylitol are sugar alcohols that provide sweetness with very few calories. We rate them higher than sugar and artificial sweeteners because they contribute to oral health, including reducing plaque, alleviating constipation and triggering secretion of gut hormones that regulate satiety (the feeling of fullness after you eat). One potential downside is that too much of either may cause stomach ache, cramping, gas or even diarrhea, which is why they aren’t given the highest score.
  • Stevia: Stevia starts as a plant and is refined and concentrated to create a sweeter end product. The sometimes bitter flavor of stevia may turn some consumers off, but it’s considered safe and is free of calories and sugar. We give it the highest score in this category.
  • Monk Fruit: Monk fruit is a non-caloric sweetener that comes from a fruit that's native to China. Its flavor can be less off-putting than stevia, so some appreciate its ability to provide sweetness without the bitter aftertaste. Like stevia, we give it the highest score in this category.

Third-party testing

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dietary supplements and ingredients, but does not test supplements before they’re released to the market (as with drugs), so it’s important to look for products that have certifications for purity and potency from third-party testing labs. These testing certifications show whether a dietary supplement contains what the brand says it contains in the doses advertised (potency). It also tests for harmful toxins (i.e. mold, heavy metals, etc.), and some check for banned substances (purity).

Nearly all reputable supplement companies test their products in-house for safety and label accuracy, but many brands also make the decision to have their products tested by a third party for even further quality and safety assurance.

Smaller, newer supplement companies often can’t afford testing or certifications from high-profile third-party testing labs—regardless of the purity or potency of their products—which is why third-party testing is weighted lower than other categories in our algorithm.

The third-party certifications we look for include:

  • NSF: NSF is an independent testing organization founded in 1944.
  • U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP): USP is an independent, non-profit, scientific organization that tests medicines and supplements, founded over 200 years ago.
  • Labdoor: Labdoor is an independent vitamin and supplement testing lab.
  • Informed Choice (ICFS): Informed Choice is a global certification program that offers badges to indicate products have been certified for focus areas (Informed Choice, Informed Sport, Informed Protein, Informed Ingredient and Informed Manufacturer).
  • Informed Sport: Informed Sport is the most recognizable Informed Choice badge. This certification is critical for athletes who might get drug tested for their sport.
  • Informed Ingredient: Another Informed Choice badge is Informed Ingredient, which indicates that a product has undergone raw material testing and is free of banned substances.

Bonus Points

Since the supplement industry is constantly evolving, we pay attention to products and brands that are going above and beyond to stand out. That’s why we incorporate bonus credits into our collagen supplement scores to recognize innovation and encourage healthy competition among all brands. All bonus credits are equally weighted and cumulatively provide a small boost to the product’s overall score.

Sustainable packaging

Sports Illustrated Showcase has an ongoing commitment to sustainability. The supplement industry is known to contribute significantly to plastic manufacturing and waste. For example, collagen supplements are usually served in bottles or tubs of plastic. Any company that offers sustainable packaging gets bonus credits because fewer plastic tubs end up in landfills.

Summary

There are countless collagen supplements available on the market, and our job at Sports Illustrated Showcase is to determine which products stand above the rest in terms of quality, potency, effectiveness and value. Our collagen methodology involves scoring products across four categories chosen in partnership with nutrition experts. The final weighted score supports our decision to either include or exclude individual products in our “best of” roundups.

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