UCII/UC2 is a health product primarily composed of natural UC-II collagen and is widely used for maintaining and improving joint health. As the population ages, the incidence of osteoarthritis increases. A press release from the Ministry of Health and Welfare states that “about 15% of Taiwanese people suffer from knee joint degeneration, with approximately 2 out of every 10 elderly people having knee joint degeneration issues.” Therefore, there are many joint health products available on the market, and UCII/UC2 has gained widespread attention due to its unique formula and effectiveness. This article will provide a detailed comparison of 11 UCII/UC2 products available on the market to help consumers choose the right one for their joint health needs.
What is UC-II/UC2 Undenatured Type II Collagen?
UCII/UC2 (Undenatured Type II Collagen, UC-II®) is a patented form of undenatured type II collagen extracted from chicken sternum.
Type II collagen is the primary component of cartilage and is known to help improve joint pain and alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, making it an important nutrient for joint maintenance.
What are the Benefits of UC-II/UC2?
Among the available undenatured type II collagen raw materials, UC-II® stands out with the richest research data for its efficacy in treating degenerative joint arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Studies have shown that supplementing with a small dose of UC-II® has an effect on reducing pain in joint pain patients. It also helps with morning stiffness, stiffness after rest, and pain during physical activity, making it a new therapeutic tool for improving joint inflammation, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.[1].
Further reading: What is UC2/UC-II? Efficacy and Side Effects of Undenatured Type II Collagen (3 Times More Effective Than Glucosamine!)
UC2 vs. Glucosamine: Which Is More Effective?
There are many joint health products available, and UCII/UC2 and glucosamine are among the most commonly compared ones. Both of these products are widely used to relieve joint pain and improve joint health.
UC-II/UC2 is typically used to help reduce joint pain and improve joint function, while glucosamine can slow down cartilage degeneration and enhance cartilage elasticity. However, the human body primarily uses other substances to synthesize “cartilage” in its own process, so even if you want to supplement cartilage deficiency by directly consuming glucosamine, it can result in low absorption rates due to glucosamine’s utilization rate of only 0.3%.
In addition, in the past decade, several analyses have found that glucosamine has effects on knee and hip arthritis similar to placebos. Due to the lack of conclusive evidence, many countries’ clinical guidelines for bone and joint treatment have discontinued the use of glucosamine. In 2018, Taiwan’s Department of Health and Health Insurance also ceased health insurance coverage for glucosamine-related drugs, as they are not considered suitable for the treatment of joint arthritis.
In summary, both UC-II/UC2 and glucosamine have their unique advantages, but if the goal of supplementation is to find a product that is more effective for joint pain, then UC-II®/UC2 may be the better choice.
Further reading: Thinking of Taking Glucosamine for Joint Health? Be Aware of These 3 Benefits and Side Effects!
Principles for Selecting UC-II/UC2
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Recognize the UC-II® Raw Material Brand
Is collagen effective in joint health supplements? There are many collagen brands, and not every one of them conducts human clinical research, so their effectiveness cannot be guaranteed. If you want to supplement collagen for joint care, you should look for products with the UC-II® label on the raw materials, as these are the ones that can truly help alleviate joint issues.
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Ensure Adequate Raw Material Dosage
Research has shown that a daily intake of 40mg of UC-II® undenatured type II collagen is required to improve osteoarthritis. However, if manufacturers only add 10mg, it will not be effective in improving osteoarthritis.
Some health products include various ingredients related to joints but do not indicate the dosage of these ingredients. As a result, the effectiveness of these products in improving joint issues is questionable.
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Check for Clinical Studies
The raw materials of UC-II® have been proven to be effective in clinical trials. When selecting a product, it is recommended to choose one that includes research data or clinical studies that confirm its efficacy.
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Avoid Additives and Allergenic Ingredients
Many joint health products include other unnecessary ingredients. Some additives can cause discomfort to the stomach, so it is better to choose a simple product without too many extra additives.
Comparison of UC-II/UC2 Products
We have compared the dosage of UC-II/UC2 in 11 different joint health products. The products are as follows:
Joint Health Products Containing UC-II® in the Market:
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Daiken Biomdical Undenatured Type II Collagen Capsule
- Cartilage Matrix: UC-II®, Mobilee® Hyaluronic Acid
- Lubricant: Mobilee® Hyaluronic Acid
- Anti-Inflammatory: UC-II®, Turmeric, MSM
- Adequate Dosage: Yes
- Daily Consumption: 1 capsule
- Daily Cost: $67
- Price: $1,974 (30 capsules/box)
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Niang Jia Expert Key
- Cartilage Matrix: UC-II®, Hyaluronic Acid
- Lubricant: Hyaluronic Acid
- Anti-Inflammatory: UC-II®, Hytolive® Olive Extract
- Adequate Dosage: Yes
- Daily Consumption: 1 capsule
- Daily Cost: $76
- Price: $2,280 (30 capsules/box)
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Caltrate UC-II
- Cartilage Matrix: UC-II®
- Lubricant: None
- Anti-Inflammatory: UC-II®
- Adequate Dosage: Yes
- Daily Consumption: 1 capsule
- Daily Cost: $34
- Price: $999 (30 capsules/box)
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Brands Porsche Collagen Tablets
- Cartilage Matrix: UC-II®
- Lubricant: None
- Anti-Inflammatory: UC-II®
- Adequate Dosage: Yes
- Daily Consumption: 1 capsule
- Daily Cost: $58
- Price: $1,750 (30 capsules/box)
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Schiff Move Free Ultra
- Cartilage Matrix: UC-II®
- Lubricant: None
- Anti-Inflammatory: UC-II®
- Adequate Dosage: Yes
- Daily Consumption: 1 capsule
- Daily Cost: $20
- Price: $1,199 (60 capsules/box)
**Joint Health Products Without Added UC-II® in the Market:**
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Suntory Jointlax
- Cartilage Matrix: Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Shark Cartilage, Salmon Nasal Cartilage
- Lubricant: Salmon Nasal Cartilage
- Anti-Inflammatory: None
- Adequate Dosage: No
- Daily Consumption: 6 capsules
- Daily Cost: $60
- Price: $1,800 (180 capsules/box)
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Healthylife Sheng Key Force Collagen
- Cartilage Matrix: Collagen, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Salmon Nasal Cartilage, Elastin
- Lubricant: Salmon Nasal Cartilage
- Anti-Inflammatory: MSM
- Adequate Dosage: No
- Daily Consumption: 1-2 packets
- Daily Cost: $119-238
- Price: $1,780 (15 packs/box)
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Taiyen Key Tablets Plus
- Cartilage Matrix: Collagen Type I & II, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate
- Lubricant: None
- Anti-Inflammatory: Curcumin, Piperine
- Adequate Dosage: No
- Daily Consumption: 3-6 capsules
- Daily Cost: $72-144
- Price: $1,280 (120 capsules/box)
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HAC Key Tablets
- Cartilage Matrix: Non-Denatured Type II Collagen, Collagen Type I, Salmon Nasal Cartilage, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Shark Cartilage
- Lubricant: Salmon Nasal Cartilage, Hyaluronic Acid
- Anti-Inflammatory: MSM
- Adequate Dosage: Unknown
- Daily Consumption: 1 capsule
- Daily Cost: $46
- Price: $1,380 (30 capsules/box)
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Ajiou Action Strategy Capsules
- Cartilage Matrix: Non-Denatured Type II Collagen, Hyabest® Hyaluronic Acid, Chondroitin Sulfate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride
- Lubricant: Hyabest® Hyaluronic Acid
- Anti-Inflammatory: MSM
- Adequate Dosage: No
- Daily Consumption: 1-2 capsules
- Daily Cost: $40-80
- Price: $1,200 (30 capsules/box)
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NutriPlus Collagen Type II
- Cartilage Matrix: Non-Denatured Type II Collagen, Collagen, Japanese Salmon Extract
- Lubricant: Japanese Salmon Extract
- Anti-Inflammatory: Curcumin
- Adequate Dosage: No
- Daily Consumption: 1 capsule
- Daily Cost: $32
- Price: $990 (30 capsules/box)
Comparison Table of 11 UCII/UC2 Supplements in the Market
| Product Name | Daiken Biomdical Undenatured Type II Collagen Capsule | Niang Jia Expert Key | Caltrate UC-II | Brands Porsche Collagen Tablets | Schiff Move Free Ultra | Suntory Jointlax |
Healthylife Sheng Key Force Collagen |
Taiyen Key Tablets Plus | HAC Key Tablets | Ajiou Action Strategy Capsules | NutriPlus Collagen Type II |
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 |
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| Cartilage Matrix | UC-II® Mobilee® Hyaluronic Acid | UC-II® Hyaluronic Acid | UC-II® | UC-II® | UC-II® | Glucosamine Hydrochloride Shark Cartilage Salmon Nasal Cartilage | Collagen Chondroitin Sulfate Cartilage Matrix Salmon Nasal Cartilage Elastin | Collagen Type I & II Glucosamine Hydrochloride Chondroitin Sulfate | Non-Denatured Type II Collagen Collagen Type I Salmon Nasal Cartilage Glucosamine Hydrochloride Shark Cartilage | Non-Denatured Type II Collagen Hyabest® Hyaluronic Acid Chondroitin Sulfate Glucosamine Hydrochloride | Non-Denatured Type II Collagen Collagen Japanese Salmon Extract |
| Lubricant | Mobilee® Hyaluronic Acid | Hyaluronic Acid | Salmon Nasal Cartilage | Salmon Nasal Cartilage | Salmon Nasal Cartilage Hyaluronic Acid | Hyabest® Hyaluronic Acid | Japanese Salmon Extract | ||||
| Anti-Inflammatory | UC-II® Curcumin MSM | UC-II® Hytolive® Olive Extract | UC-II® | UC-II® | UC-II® | MSM | Curcumin Piperine | MSM | MSM | Curcumin | |
| Adequate Dosage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Unknown | No | No |
| Daily Consumption | 1 capsule | 1 capsule | 1 capsule | 1 capsule | 1 capsule | 6 capsules | 1-2 packets | 2-3 capsules | 1 capsule | 1-2 capsules | 1 capsule |
| Daily Cost | $67 | $76 | $34 | $58 | $20 | $60 | $119-238 | $53-$79 | $46 | $40-$80 | $32 |
| Price | $1,974 30 capsules / box | $2,280 30 capsules / box | $999 30 capsules / box | $1,750 30 capsules / box | $1,199 60 capsules / box | $1,800 180 capsules / box | $1,780 15 packs / box | $2,350 90 capsules / box | $1,380 30 capsules / box | $1,200 30 capsules / box | $990 30 capsules / box |
Who Should Consider Supplementing with UC-II/UC2 Collagen?
- Patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and those who often experience joint discomfort.
- Those who frequently lift heavy objects, climb stairs, or have joint pain issues.
- Middle-aged and elderly individuals.
- Individuals who enjoy hiking, running, jogging, cycling, and other sports.
- Individuals with higher body weight who cannot stand for prolonged periods.
- Sedentary office workers.
A final reminder, maintaining and regenerating cartilage is not something that can happen in just a few days, much like how a wound needs time to heal. Increasing cartilage also takes time, and if you decide to start oral supplementation for cartilage growth, it should be done for at least three months or more with daily maintenance to have a real impact on your joints!
I hope you enjoyed today’s joint health supplement information. If you want to learn more about health-related topics, remember to bookmark the website and visit “Health Medical Academy” regularly for articles!
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