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Ever wandered through the health aisle and wondered what the best collagen peptide supplement is? Our team has personally used dozens of collagen powders with the same question in mind. In that quest, we sampled Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, which is a bovine-derived product that is sourced from the hides of grass-fed, pasture-raised cows.
In our Vital Proteins Collagen Peptide review, we’ll discuss the potential benefits of this product and let you know what our expert product testers think about it. As a registered dietitian, I’ll break down the formulation and explain why this may or may not be the right collagen for you.
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is a premium powdered supplement that features hydrolyzed collagen peptides that in turn, help promote joint, nail and hair health.
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
Staci Gulbin, a registered dietitian since 2010, wrote this article and verified each study cited throughout. She also offers insight to the formulation of Vital Proteins.
Main Takeaways
- Each serving contains 20 grams of hydrolyzed collagen peptides, which claims to dissolve well in liquids and digest well in your body.
- This collagen peptide formula comes in an advanced formula that contains 100% of the daily value of vitamin C as well as hyaluronic acid.
- It’s dairy-free and gluten-free, paleo-friendly and Whole30 diet-approved.
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Highlights
- Price Per Serving: $1.64 for a 28-serving canister, $1.93 per serving for a 14-serving package, and $2.14 for a seven-serving package. Subscribe-and-save options available.
- Collagen Protein Per Serving: 18 grams
- Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed bovine hide-derived collagen peptides
- Calories Per Serving: 70
- Flavors: Unflavored,lemon, chocolate, or vanilla
- Third-Party Tested? No
In looking for the best protein powders, you may stumble across collagen supplements. Collagen is a little different from standard whey or pea protein, but it still offers a host of benefits. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides has 20 grams of collagen peptides per serving, which exceeds the amount of collagen peptides your body needs to show functional benefits. (1)(2)
In a 2022 PubMed study, collagen peptides were proven to promote recovery, decrease pain, improve strength, and potentially improve the fat-to-lean body mass ratio when paired with resistance workouts. (3) Additional benefits of collagen include that it supports hair, skin, and nail health, and it may also support bone, connective tissues, and joint health. (4)(5)(6)
One thing our tester, certified sports nutrition coach Amanda Capritto, loves is that there are flavored and unflavored options. “I have used both the chocolate flavor of Vital Proteins and the unflavored option. The unflavored one is great for coffee, and the chocolate one is great for smoothies,” she says.
At less than $2 per serving, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides powder is a little higher in price than some budget options. However, there are ways to save, such as buying larger canisters, or opting for a subscribe-and-save deal.
Since it comes in either unflavored or flavored form, you can add this product to smoothies, your morning coffee or tea, oatmeal, or protein shakes for easy intake. And its small peptide form makes it easy to dissolve in hot and cold liquids. This product is not vegan-friendly but does have a whitefish-derived option. Therefore, this product is ok for plant-based diets where fish intake is allowed.
Pros
- 20 grams of collagen per serving
- Third-party tested
- Contains Vitamin C
- No added sugars
- Powder dissolves easily in hot and cold liquids
Cons
- Not vegan-friendly
- Price point may be expensive
- Unflavored option can have an unpleasant taste
Using Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Several people on our team have used Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. Here, we dive into their thoughts.
Solubility
Kate Meier, a certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial member, says she has used Vital Proteins on and off for years.
“The best thing about Vital Proteins is how easily it mixes with your morning coffee,” she says. “One or two stirs, and it’s completely dissolved.”
Amanda Capritto, CPT and CSNC, agrees..
“I mixed it with water alone using a strong frother and could visibly see some floaters. However, when I added it to my coffee, I didn’t notice any issues with solubility. So I’d give this a 4 out of 5 on solubility,” says Capritto. She also notes that she found Vital Proteins mixed easier with cold liquids compared to warm ones.
Taste
When it comes to taste, Capritto says, “This claims to be unflavored and is truly completely unflavored.” She noted that she couldn’t detect it in her coffee at all, whereas she can’t say that about all collagen powders.
“I also tried the chocolate flavor, and even mixed with water, the taste is pretty good,” she adds. “If you’re only using water, I suggest picking the chocolate flavor.”
Both Meier and Capritto agree that while this may not be the best tasting protein powder, Vital Proteins still scores a fairly high 4 out of 5 for flavor.
Formulation
As a registered dietitian, I give Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides a rating of 4 out of 5. There are some big positives from this brand, but also a few drawbacks.
The standard unflavored collagen by Vital Proteins contains hydrolyzed bovine derived from the hide of grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle. You get 20 grams of collagen per serving, which includes 19 amino acids. However, and importantly, it lacks one of the nine essential amino acids: tryptophan.
You can also opt for the advanced form of this product, which contains all that the standard form has plus 100% of the daily value of vitamin C as well as 120 milligrams of hyaluronic acid per serving.
It’s vital, no pun intended, to know that this product should not replace the protein powder that you would have before or after a workout. It should also be noted that this wouldn’t be ideal if you’re looking for one of the best protein powders for weight loss.
Why? Because collagen isn’t considered a complete protein because it lacks tryptophan, which is one of the nine essential amino acids. Therefore, you also shouldn’t count collagen intake against your recommended protein intake.
One other important factor is that Vital Proteins Collagen is not vegan. In fact, no collagen is vegan because it is sourced from bovine (cows) or marine life. While there are some genetically modified collagen imitations out there that are vegan-friendly, they are not true collagen products.
[Related: Best Vegan Protein Powders]
What to Consider Before Buying Vital Proteins Collagen
Before buying this product, you should be sure if it’s right for you and your health goals. This is because not every person may need to take this product to enhance their movement routine if you consume enough collagen in your diet already through bone broth, animal products, beans, or lentils.
However, if you do decide to supplement with collagen and opt for Vital Proteins, here are a few considerations:
Flavors
When you choose a wellness product or any product you consume for that matter, it needs to taste good. If a product doesn’t taste good, you’re not going to consume it daily. And if you don’t consume it daily, you won’t reap the full benefits of the product.
Vital Proteins come in an unflavored form that you can add to just about any liquid. But if you prefer a flavor, it also comes in vanilla, chocolate, matcha, and lemon, as well as limited edition flavors.
Price Per Serving
The price per serving of this product depends on the exact product you purchase and where you purchase it. For instance, the 28-serving size, which is the standard formula, would cost $1.64 per serving, while the advanced formula would cost around $1.79 per serving.
Meanwhile, the marine collagen stick packs would cost $2.55 each, while the bovine collagen stick packs would cost around $1.43 each. All these options would be 15% cheaper if you subscribe on the Vital Proteins website. Not to mention, some stores that carry these products may have sales that would provide an even lower price.
Third-Party Testing
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is third party tested. This means it does not contain any compounds that are banned by sports teams or groups. Therefore, athletes can ensure that if they take this product, they will be safe from such compounds. We find that the best clean protein powders are typically third-party tested.
Vital Proteins Collagen Vs. The Competition
In the chart below, check out the Vital Proteins Collagen as compared to two other popular collagen brands. After looking at these specs, you can decide which collagen product may be right for you and your wellness goals. Keep in mind that the prices shown below are for the unflavored option for each brand at the standard price on the company website without any discounts.
| Vital Proteins Collagen | Transparent Labs Collagen | Bulletproof Collagen | |
| Price Per Serving | $1.64 (original brand) | $1.17 | $1.76 |
| Collagen Per Serving | 20 grams | 11 grams | 20 grams |
| Flavors | Unflavored, chocolate, vanilla, lemon, matcha, and limited edition flavors | Unflavored and chocolate | Unflavored, chocolate, and vanilla |
| Key Ingredients | Grass-fed, pasture-raised, and hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides | Hydrolyzed bovine collagen (grass-fed) | Grass-fed, pasture-raised, and hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides |
| Third-party Tested | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Places to Buy Vital Proteins Collagen
You can buy Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides just about anywhere. Online, you can find it on Amazon and the Vital Proteins website. You can also find it in Target, Costco, and Sam’s Club, and possibly your local grocery store. There is a store locator on the VItal Proteins website to find out where you can buy this collagen brand near you.
Customer Experience
You can subscribe to Vital Proteins on their website. When you do that, you receive free shipping, an option to cancel anytime, and 15% off of your purchase each month. If you don’t subscribe, one-time purchases on the website will need a $50 purchase before you can get free shipping. You should also know that free shipping is only valid within the connecting 48 United States as well as Washington D.C.
If you no longer want to subscribe, you need to do so at least three days prior to your next order date. There are no trial options or free samples to test out before buying, but you can always purchase a small bin or a stick pack box of certain product samples to start to see if you like it.
On both the Vital Proteins and Amazon, the original flavor has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 from buyers.
Company Information
Vital Proteins, a Certified B Corporation, prioritizes social impact and sustainability. They’ve ditched plastic scoops since 2024 and were crowned the best collagen powder in 2022. Their mission? Helping you thrive from within. Need assistance? Reach out via live chat, phone (224-544-9110), or email them at info@vitalproteins.com.
In Conclusion
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides powder is an easy-to-use and easy-to-digest product that may help support your bones and joints during workouts. A variety of flavors or no flavor, and the dairy-free, gluten-free formula makes it a good fit for most healthy lifestyles. It can help you support your bone and joint health and in turn, improve ease of movement.
Vital Proteins Collagen FAQs
What is Vital Proteins Collagen good for?
Vital Proteins Collagen can help with the hydration of skin, hair, and nails, as well as support bone and joint health. Research shows that collagen peptides like Vital Proteins can help reduce pain, increase strength, and improve body composition when paired with resistance training (1).
Why is there a warning on Vital Proteins?
There’s a warning on Vital Proteins Collagen because it’s a dietary supplement not regulated by the FDA. Therefore, it’s not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. As a result, you should always ask for medical advice before starting any supplement to make sure it is safe for you and that it won’t disturb any current health treatments.
Is there a downside to taking collagen peptides?
There is no clear downside to collagen peptides except that it may be right for every person. Future research is needed with larger sample sizes, more diverse study groups, and longer study terms to fully grasp the way collagen peptides work in the human body. Because of this lack of research, those who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should not use such products unless their doctor says it’s safe.
References
- Khatri, M., Naughton, R.J., Clifford, T., Harper, L.D., and Corr, L. (2021) “The effects of collagen peptide supplementation on body composition, collagen synthesis, and recovery from joint injury and exercise: a systematic review.” Amino Acids, 53(10):1493-1506.
- Paul, C., Leser, S., and Oesser, S. “Significant Amounts of Functional Collagen Peptides Can Be Incorporated in the Diet While Maintaining Indispensable Amino Acid Balance.” Nutrients, 11(5):1079.
- Kviatkovsky, S.A., Hickner, R.C., and Ormsbee, M.J. “Collagen peptide supplementation for pain and function: is it effective?” Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care, 25(6):401-406.
- Seong, M.D., S. H., Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Y.I., Lee, M.D., J., Choi, M.D., S., Kim, B.S., I.A., Suk, M.S., J., et al. (2023) “Low-molecular-weight collagen peptides supplement promotes a healthy skin: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Volume 23, Issue 2: 554-562.
- Zdzieblik, D., Oesser, S., and König, D. (2021) “Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides in Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: Long-Term Observation in Postmenopausal Women.” J Bone Metab., 28(3):207-213.
- Wen, S., Iturriaga, V., Vásquez, B., and Del Sol, M. (2023) “Comparison of Four Treatment Protocols with Intra-Articular Medium Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid in Induced Temporomandibular Osteoarthritis: An Experimental Study.” Int J Mol Sci., 24(18):14130.
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