Collagen heavy metal content

Posted by njx58 @njx58, Sep 26, 2025

In another thread, some people were discussing the heavy metal content of collagen peptide supplements. I asked Keith McCormick about his own OsteoNaturals supplement. He sent me the Gelita lab report. I'll summarize the key tiems. For each metal, I'll list the desired specification, and the actual result.

Cadmium: < = 0.10 ppm, < 0.10 ppm
Mercury: < = 0.02 ppm, < 0.02
Arsenic: < = 0.7 ppm, < 0.7 ppm
Lead: < = 0.50 ppm, < 0.01 ppm

So, it is not free of heavy metals, but it doesn't have a lot. What I don't know is what levels are acceptable. Most of the brands contain metals. Vital Proteins was sued a few years ago; they are owned by Nestle, a notorious company for ignoring consumer health. Of course it's a little suspicious that the OsteoNaturals lab test was performed by Gelita itself - the maker of Fortibone.

I am now thinking that the benefit of using collagen peptides, which is small to begin with, is not worth it. I need to do some more research.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

Profile picture for tombenson @tombenson

@glojo The reason your parents lived a long life is because of the quality of food they ate. Corporations, on the quest for greater profits, grow and process animal and produce in infant states, steers at 18 to 24 months, produce is picked green and then exposed to ethaline or xyline gas to turn it the appropriate color. The fruit remains firm. Less is lost in shipping. This creates a mineral and protein deficiency. All the collagen on the market is still processed from the same animals except one and it won't be on the market for another month: Rejuvenation Guaranteed. Com. The sourced animals are older, free range, wild caught, organic. Their protein is hydrolyzed for bioavalability and mixed at concentrations that corporations won't touch because that have boards to answer to. For instance collagen 10 is expensive so most collagen companies use no more than 1 to 3 percent. RG also adds a true bioflavinoide not an ascorbic acid which is a synthesised vitamin C. Your body knows the difference. This product guarantees results in 90 days or your money back. How do I know about this? I was in the clinical study. I feel better now than when I was in my late thirties. I workout and I have the body and skin of a much younger man. Their website will be up in a week or so. This is the future of medicine. Give your body "Nutritional restoration" and the body will do what it evolved doing, heal itself.

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@tombenson genetics key factor

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Profile picture for kathycalifornia @kathycalifornia

I have T-score left hip -2.6 August 2026. No HRT, started Onero/Liftmor with trainer 8 months ago, calcium/D3 (just adding K2. Seriously considering Fortibone but do any brands have independent lab verifications, such as NSF International, USP (United States Pharmacopeia), or current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) compliance?

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@kathycalifornia You might look into OsteoNaturals the brand made available by Keith McCormick who is the author of Good Bones one of the most highly regarded books on osteoporosis. It is 100% Fortibone, no additives, and has a GMP label on the canister. It is also the most economical collagen if you compare the cost of serving units.

Many people here on Connect are bothered by the Fortibone study undertaken and published by Gelita, a German company that also produces and markets Fortibone. However, unlike the USA, the EU regulates vitamin and mineral supplements under its food and drug regimes. It would be nice if anyone on Connect can provide detail about what this means....but it is likely better than nothing.

I have been using this collagen product for less than a year but have had no DEXA scans during this time so do not know impact, if any, on bone density. However, within weeks of starting it, there was noticeable improvements of my skin and hair. I did not experience these improvements with other collagen products I tried.

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Profile picture for meri8181 @meri8181

I have been taking NativePath brand Fortibone.
I don’t want all the added vitamins in the AlgaeCal products.
I’d rather have control of my own dosages.

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@meri8181 I have been taking algaecal plus and algaecal collagen and has help me with my knee pain and hair loss . I am praying to help me with my osteoporosis too since I decide to try the natural way to see if can help me without prescription medicine . Highly recommended Algaecal .

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62 years seasoned and I have been taking Vital Proteins for two years. I thought it wasn’t helping, so I decided to stop. Within a week my small joints were aching. I am consuming it daily again. However, I am concerned about the lead content, even though it is minimal. As we know lead can cause memory issues.

I began taking Nutrafol about 10 months ago and see new growth around the hairline with overall improved hair quality. However, the crown and top of head haven’t any new growth yet. It takes a commitment to see results, so I will give eighteen months before deciding. Hope this helps decisions for some.

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Interesting what we don’t know what is in Vital Proteins. Metal? If taken everyday how much are we absorbing???

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