Type II collagen

Type II collagen is the basis for hyaline cartilage, including the articular cartilages at joint surfaces. It is formed by homotrimers of collagen, type II, alpha 1 chains.

It makes up 50% of all protein in cartilage and 85–90% of collagen of articular cartilage.

Type II collagen is organised into fibrils. This fibrillar network of collagen allows the cartilage to entrap the proteoglycan aggregate, as well as providing tensile strength to the tissue. Oral administration of native type II collagen induces oral tolerance to pathological immune responses and may be useful in arthritis.

Supplements containing Type II collagen have been reported to have positive impact on skin health. A review and analysis of 19 studies found that participants who used collagen supplements saw an improvement in the firmness, suppleness, and moisture content of the skin, with wrinkles appearing less noticeable. There is still a need for large, high-quality studies to determine the scientific impact of Type II collagen supplements on skin health.