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UC-II® Undenatured Type II Collagen
INGREDIENT 01 / 04

UC-II® Undenatured Type II Collagen

Supports immune tolerance to collagen and helps maintain cartilage comfort and flexibility.

UC-II® Undenatured Type II Collagen patented brand logo

Ingredient Overview

UC-II® is a patented form of undenatured (native) Type II collagen derived from chicken sternum cartilage. Unlike hydrolysed collagen, its triple-helix structure remains intact, allowing it to work through a unique immune-mediated pathway at a very low dose.

Mechanism of Action

UC-II® works through a process called oral tolerance. The intact Type II collagen interacts with Peyer's patches in the gut, training the immune system to recognise the body's own cartilage collagen as safe. This helps reduce the immune-driven attack on joint cartilage, supporting comfort, flexibility and long-term cartilage health.

Key Results

  • Significantly reduces joint discomfort when climbing, walking up or down stairs, bending and squatting vs placebo
  • Increases knee cartilage thickness by up to 17% and significantly decreases cartilage breakdown
  • 30% of subjects taking rescue medication (NSAIDs) stopped taking them after 12 weeks of UC-II®
  • Significantly improved joint function, mobility and flexibility in studies of up to 291 adults

Clinical Studies

Study 1

Joint discomfort during activities of daily living in healthy adults aged 50+

17 healthy adults, age ≥50 years
40 mg UC-II® or placebo · 120 days
  • Significantly decreased joint discomfort during activities of daily living
  • Significantly reduced discomfort when climbing, walking up or down stairs, bending, and squatting vs placebo

Saiyed et al. (2021). J Clin Trials, 11, 14 — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Study 2

Cartilage thickness and breakdown in people with osteoarthritis

30 adults with OA, age 18+ years
40 mg UC-II® · 6 months
  • Significantly increased knee cartilage thickness up to 17%
  • Significantly decreased cartilage breakdown
  • 30% of subjects on rescue medication (NSAIDs) stopped taking them after 12 weeks

Yaremenko et al. (2021). PAIN. JOINTS. SPINE. 11(3), 5–12.

Study 3

Combining muscle-strengthening exercise with UC-II® in people with OA

60 adults with OA, age 40–75 years
40 mg UC-II® or placebo · 90 days
  • May enhance the benefits of muscle-strengthening exercises
  • Increased strength and mobility

Costa AF et al. (2020). Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 10(3).

Study 4

Safety and effectiveness under actual practice conditions

291 adults with OA, age 28–79 years
40 mg UC-II® · 90 days
  • Significantly improved joint function, mobility and flexibility compared to baseline

Mehta et al. (2019). International Journal of Research in Orthopaedics, 3(2), 316–320.

Study 5

Effectiveness in knee osteoarthritis

100 adults with OA, age 45–65 years
40 mg UC-II® · 120 days
  • Significantly improved joint function, mobility and flexibility compared to baseline

Azeem et al. (2019). Int J Orthop Traumatol Surg Sci, 6, 172–175.

Scientific References

  • Saiyed et al. (2021). Efficacy of UC-II® undenatured type II collagen on knee joint function in healthy subjects. J Clin Trials, 11, 14.
  • Yaremenko et al. (2021). Efficacy, tolerance and influence on cartilage metabolism of UC-II® (Mercana) in knee OA. PAIN. JOINTS. SPINE. 11(3), 5–12.
  • Costa AF et al. (2020). Associated strengthening exercises to undenatured oral type II collagen (UC-II®). Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 10(3).
  • Mehta et al. (2019). A non-interventional, prospective, multicentric real-life Indian study of un-denatured type 2 collagen. Int J Res Orthop, 3(2), 316–320.
  • Azeem et al. (2019). The study of undenatured type II collagen in knee osteoarthritis. Int J Orthop Traumatol Surg Sci, 6, 172–175.
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