What the "II" on the label means
Collagen is a family of proteins, and the Roman numeral names the member. The body has more than twenty types. Type I is the most common one and sits in skin, bone and tendons, usually alongside type III. Type II makes up most of the collagen in cartilage, which is why manufacturers extract it from cartilage: the breastbone (sternal) cartilage of chickens. Where a type occurs in the body says nothing about what a supplement does, and the EU has not authorised any health claim for collagen of any type.
Undenatured or hydrolysed
Undenatured means the protein still has its original folded structure. UC-II is made this way, and the label dose is small: 40 mg in one capsule. Hydrolysed means the protein has been cut into short peptides, the same process used for ordinary collagen powders. BioCell is hydrolysed type II collagen. The cartilage extract also contains chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid, and the label lists each of the three with its own amount.
| Product | Form | Type II collagen per daily dose | Also in the daily dose | How you take it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOW Foods UC-II | undenatured | 40 mg | 250 mg Aquamin F (red seaweed minerals, 80 mg calcium) | 1 capsule at bedtime, on an empty stomach |
| NOW Foods BioCell | hydrolysed | 1140 mg | 380 mg chondroitin sulphate, 190 mg hyaluronic acid | 2 capsules twice a day |
| Swanson BioCell | hydrolysed | 1200 mg | 400 mg chondroitin sulphate, 200 mg hyaluronic acid | 2 capsules twice a day, on an empty stomach, with water |
Milligrams against grams
A 40 mg UC-II capsule is not a weaker version of four BioCell capsules with 1140 mg. They are different ingredients, each with its own label dose, so weight alone tells you nothing. Compare like with like. Between the two BioCell products the difference is 1140 mg against 1200 mg in the same four capsules, and a pack of 120 capsules lasts 30 days in both cases. The UC-II pack of 60 capsules lasts 60 days, which usually makes the price per day the more useful number.
How type II products differ from type I and III
Most collagen on the shelf is bovine or marine peptides. When those labels name a type, it is type I or types I and III, and the daily amount is measured in grams, from about 1 g in capsules to 20 g in a powder. The peptides dissolve in drinks. Type II collagen in our range comes only as capsules and in much smaller amounts. If you want a powder to stir into coffee or a smoothie, the marine collagen and general collagen categories are the place to look.
What to check on the label
All three products come from chicken, so they do not suit anyone who avoids poultry. Swanson's capsule shell is gelatin, while the NOW Foods BioCell capsule is plant cellulose (HPMC). The NOW Foods labels say the products are for adults and ask you to talk to a doctor first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or take medication. Swanson does not recommend its BioCell during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Questions
Is UC-II the same as type II collagen?
UC-II is a trade name for one specific undenatured type II collagen. All UC-II is type II collagen, but hydrolysed products such as BioCell are type II collagen too and are made differently.
Why is the UC-II dose so much smaller?
The manufacturer sets the dose for the undenatured ingredient at 40 mg a day. Hydrolysed peptides are a different raw material with doses in the gram range, so the two figures are not meant to be compared.
Does type II collagen have an authorised health claim?
No. There is no authorised EU claim for collagen, chondroitin sulphate or hyaluronic acid, so we describe these products by source, form and dose only.
Can a vegetarian take type II collagen?
No. Both UC-II and BioCell are made from chicken cartilage.
Sources
- EU Register of nutrition and health claims
- Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (permitted health claims)
- European Commission: Nutrition and health claims
- EFSA: Health claims
Content reviewed by Inese Kalniņa, dietitian.
2026-10-03