Supplements

Why Doctors Are Calling FORTIBONE® the Best Collagen for Bone Health

Written by Dr. Chad Walding, DPT

Updated on August 28, 2023

Bones are deteriorating at an alarming rate. From osteoporosis alone, there are 240 million sufferers across the globe (1).

Your bones are meant to provide support for movement and mobility, protect vital organs like your brain and heart, and make sure your body’s levels of minerals (like calcium and phosphorus) remain stable (2). But when bones weaken, all three of those essential functions take a nosedive.

There are several underlying causes of bone fractures: a lack of physical activity, excess alcohol, or simply not enough vitamin D (3). In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at how a lack of collagen impacts your bones, and the best collagen to take for bone health.

Table Of Contents

Why Collagen Is Essential for Bones

There are 3 reasons why collagen is essential for the health of your bones…

  1. Collagen makes up 30% of the organic components in your bones (2). Collagen to your bones is like what 2x4s are to a house—it’s what gives them strength, stability, and structure.
  2. Beginning in your mid-20s, your collagen levels begin to decline (4). So by 60 years of age, you have roughly half the amount of collagen you had in your 20s. As collagen declines, wrinkles emerge, nails become brittle, hair thins, bones weaken, and joints ache.
  3. For those over 50 years old, bone fractures from osteoporosis affect one in three women, and one in five men (5). Not only do these fractures decrease quality of life, but they also increase one's risk of dying in the months and years following a fracture (6). This risk is most prominent in the first 3 to 6 months after an osteoporotic fracture and lasts until 5 to 10 years post-fracture (7).

Thankfully, with the proper collagen supplement, you can reverse your loss of collagen and restore the strength that your bones once had…

The Best Collagen Supplement for Bone Health

Since collagen makes up 30% of your bone structure, one of the best ways to prevent, or even reverse, your risk of osteoporosis is by supplementing with collagen daily. But with dozens of collagen supplements on the market, how do you know which one to choose?

When shopping for a collagen supplement, there are two things you’ll want to look for:

1. Bioactive Peptides

Bioactive Collagen Peptides are unique in that they stimulate your body to produce more collagen, whereas normal collagen peptides simply restore the collagen you’ve lost.

So, rather than needing the standard collagen peptide dosage of 10 to 20 grams, one only needs 2.5 to 7 grams of Bioactive Collagen Peptides to experience positive results in their skin, hair, nails, and bones.

2. FORTIBONE®

FORTIBONE® are highly purified Bioactive Collagen Peptides from bovine bone. With several studies to back it up (which we’ll get to in the next section), it helps stimulate the reproduction of bone while reducing the degradation of bone.

If a collagen supplement doesn’t have these two callouts, then odds are, it’s not the very best for your bones.

The Scientific Studies Behind FORTIBONE®

In one 2018 study, 131 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density were split into two groups. The first group took 5 grams of FORTIBONE® daily for one year, while the second group took a placebo (8).

The bone mineral density of the femoral neck and spine was analyzed after 12 months, along with the level of Type 1 Collagen in the body.

Femoral Neck

Graphic showing the femoral neck of a broken hip glowing in red.

Spine

Graphic showing the human spine glowing in red.

The Results: After one year, 102 of the women had completed the study. As expected, those taking the 5 grams of FORTIBONE® saw a significant increase in bone density in both the femoral neck and spine, 3.0% and 6.7%, respectively. To put this in perspective, the placebo group saw a decrease of 1.3% and 1.0% in their bone mineral density for the spine and femoral neck.

Chart showing the T-score change for the spine and femoral neck in those taking Specific Collagen Peptides or a Placebo.

Another plus for the FORTIBONE® group: the biomarker for Type 1 Collagen (P1NP) increased. This shows that Bioactive Collagen Peptides actually stimulate the formation of bones. Whereas for those taking the placebo, the degradation of bones increased.

What’s fascinating is that AFTER this study, 23 of the participants were asked to continue taking collagen peptides for the next four years (13 from the collagen group and 10 from the placebo group). Bone density in the spine and femur continued to be measured. Just like in the first 12 months of supplementation, the results were positive: The group who had been taking collagen all along saw a 5.79% and 4.21% increase in the bone density of the spine and neck. While the group who had previously been taking a placebo (but is now taking collagen peptides) saw an 8.16% and 1.23% increase in the spine and neck (9).

Chart showing the results of taking Specific Collagen Peptides for four years. Spine and femoral neck are being evaluated.

The results from these studies are extremely promising for those finding themselves in the same predicament as the women who were assessed. Not all hope has to be lost if you’re over 60 with osteoporosis. It can be reversed—these studies proved it. With time, consistency, and the right collagen supplement, you can free yourself from the fear of falling and getting a fracture.

NativePath’s latest product, Bone Health Collagen, has 5 grams of FORTIBONE® to provide you with the benefits that the participants from the studies above got to experience in their bones.

Bone Health Collagen Peptides

Takeaways

  • Bones provide support for movement and mobility, protect vital organs, and maintain the correct balance of minerals in the body. Unfortunately, bones get weaker with age. This is when conditions like osteoporosis arise.
  • Osteoporosis, which translates into “porous bone”, is a condition where bones lose their density, becoming brittle and fragile. When this happens, the risk of fractures increases by 20% and 50% for men and women, respectively (10). 240 million people around the world are affected.
  • Bone fractures can come from a variety of things…from lifestyle factors to diseases to medications. One of the main causes of osteoporosis is a lack of collagen.
  • Collagen makes up 30% of the organic matrix in your bones. Unfortunately, those collagen levels begin to decline in your mid-20s. So by 60 years of age, you’re left with about half of the collagen you started with. This is when things like osteoporosis start to arise.
  • Luckily, Collagen Peptides can prevent, and even reverse, osteoporosis. Namely, FORTIBONE®—a type of Bioactive Collagen Peptides that help stimulate the reproduction of bone while reducing the degradation of bone.
  • NativePath’s Bone Health Collagen includes 5 grams of FORTIBONE® and 2 grams of VERISOL® (a skin-enhancing collagen peptide) for total bone AND skin health.

Disclaimer: FORTIBONE® and VERISOL® are registered trademarks of GELITA AG.

A hand pouring a scoop of NativePath Bone Health Collagen Peptides into a coffee mug with a French press in the background.

Help Strengthen Your Bones 1 Scoop At A Time

NativePath Bone Health Collagen contains our proprietary and clinically-proven Bioactive Collagen Peptides FORTIBONE® and VERISOL® for strong bones and healthy joints, skin, hair, and nails.

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Dr. Chad Walding
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Dr. Chad Walding

Dr. Chad Walding is the Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer at NativePath. He is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a passion for helping people eat, move, and live in harmony with their natural state.

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    Medical Disclaimer

    This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Chad Walding nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program.

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