# 8. Does collagen live up to the hype? [New research 2025]

- **Channel:** Menno Henselmans
- **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmsQdP7QbJk
- **Views:** 27,323
- **Upload date:** 2025-08-12
- **Length:** 8m 32s
- **Transcript method:** YouTube captions (yt-dlp android client on Studio)
- **Full transcript:** [transcripts/rmsQdP7QbJk.txt](../transcripts/rmsQdP7QbJk.txt)

## Summary

Evidence-led sceptic review of oral collagen hype from coach and researcher Menno Henselmans. He summarises recent independent studies finding no additive effect of hydrolysed collagen on muscle or connective-tissue protein synthesis, skin protein synthesis or tendon adaptations beyond training alone. He flags industry sponsorship (notably Gelita) behind many positive joint-pain and “miraculous muscle” papers, notes collagen’s protein score near zero for muscle building, and argues that vitamin C plus adequate total protein can supply substrates for the body’s own collagen. He allows a narrower positive case: undenatured type II collagen may help osteoarthritis, which is not the same as everyday gym joint pain. His conclusion is that the case for collagen supplements for joint or skin health in already well-nourished lifters is weak; gelatin as food is fine, but expensive powders are often low-quality protein at a high cost. Essential foil for honest Ovitage positioning—especially for B2B buyers who have already read the sceptic literature.

## Key claims (with timestamps)

- **[00:00:49]** Recent studies: 30 g hydrolysed collagen did not raise collagen-synthesis markers beyond training.
- **[00:01:34]** 15 g bioactive peptides did not improve patellar tendon adaptations over 15 weeks training.
- **[00:02:22]** Collagen is a poor muscle-building protein (score effectively zero); industry muscle claims are untrustworthy.
- **[00:04:38]** Collagen is digested to amino acids/peptides—not inserted whole into tendons.
- **[00:06:10]** Undenatured type II may help osteoarthritis; not generalisable to healthy lifters’ joint pain.

## Exact quotes

- “The protein score for collagen is literally zero.”
- “Collagen gets broken down into individual amino acids and some peptides and then it's basically rebuilt into your collagen structures.”
- “The case for collagen supplements for joint or skin health is very weak.”

## Relevance to Ovitage

Essential foil for honest Ovitage positioning. Contradicts blanket beauty/joint hype; pushes TE to lead with differentiated composition, specific clinical plans, and never claim collagen replaces complete protein for muscle. Useful for B2B buyers who have read the sceptic literature.

## Weak / lightly evidenced medical claims to flag

- Does not deeply engage the postmenopausal Fortibone BMD RCTs Haver cites—bone-specific evidence is under-weighted relative to young lifter MPS studies.
- Tone is strongly anti-industry; still, sponsorship bias is a legitimate critique Ovitage should answer with transparent methods.