Barbara Maciuszek-Bartkowska, Tomasz Zaprutko, Piotr Ratajczak, Anna Zając-Woźnialis, Leszek Kubisz, Krzysztof Kus

Comparative analysis of collagen-containing supplements available on the Polish market

2026-08-13

Background. Collagen is one of the most important structural proteins in the human body and is responsible for maintaining the integrity, elasticity, and mechanical strength of connective tissues, including the skin, articular cartilage, bones, tendons, and ligaments. With age, endogenous collagen synthesis gradually decreases. At the same time, degradation processes intensify, which may contribute to deterioration in the mechanical properties of the skin, reduced firmness and elasticity, wrinkle formation, and musculoskeletal complaints. For this reason, collagen has become one of the most popular ingredients in oral dietary supplements, particularly in products targeted at individuals seeking to improve the condition of the skin, hair, nails, and joints. However, this product market is highly diverse in terms of composition, declared collagen dose, presence of additional ingredients, collagen source, dosage form, dosing regimen, and supplementation costs.

Objective. This study aimed to review oral collagen preparations classified as dietary supplements and available to consumers, with particular emphasis on their composition, dosage, and prices. The analysis also assessed the availability of purchasing information in medical databases and the actual availability of selected preparations in community and online pharmacies.

Materials and Methods. An analysis of collagen preparations available in Poland between June 2024 and March 2025 was conducted. Products available in community pharmacies, online pharmacies, and medical databases were included. The preparations were assessed based on dosage form, collagen content, vitamin C content, dosing regimen, package price, monthly treatment cost, collagen source, and product status. A total of 388 preparations with extended quantitative and qualitative data were included in the analysis.

Results. Considerable heterogeneity was observed among the analyzed collagen-containing dietary supplements. The preparations differed in both collagen dose and the presence of ingredients supporting collagen synthesis, particularly vitamin C. Preparations with patented formulations had a significantly lower dosing frequency than non-patented products. Non-patented products more often contained higher daily collagen doses, especially in powder formulations, while the highest collagen amounts were generally observed in liquid and powder preparations. Capsules and tablets usually contain lower collagen doses, which may reflect technological limitations of these dosage forms. Differences in vitamin C content were also observed, varying significantly by product type and dosage form. In some categories, higher vitamin C doses were found in non-patented products. In contrast, in sachets, preparations with patented formulations contained higher amounts of vitamin C. Package prices and total treatment costs differed significantly by dosage form, distribution channel, and formulation status. In online pharmacies, preparations with patented formulations were often more expensive than non-patented products. However, no clear and consistent relationship was identified between product price and collagen content. Fish-derived collagen was the dominant collagen source in the analyzed preparations.

Conclusions. The oral collagen supplement market is characterized by substantial variability in composition, dosing regimens, costs, and product presentation. The findings indicate the need for a critical assessment of manufacturers’ claims and for improved consumer education about the actual content, costs, and potential benefits of collagen supplementation.

Keywords: collagen, vitamin C, dietary supplement, dosage, health benefits.

© Farm Pol, 2026, 82(2): 99–107