More than collagen: the ingredients of Vita Collagen Complex Drink

The nutritional information per sachet

One daily serving corresponds to one sachet with 14 g of powder. The following table shows the manufacturer's information. For vitamins and minerals, the percentage of the nutrient reference value (NRV) is also shown.

There is no reference value and no authorised health claim for collagen hydrolysate, glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10, lycopene and astaxanthin. We therefore only describe these substances, without attributing any effect to them.

When comparing with other products, always look at the amount per daily serving, not the amount per pack. With the Complex Drink, this is easy: one sachet is one daily serving, and every figure in the table refers to exactly this one sachet. The figure 10,000 mg corresponds to 10 g.

Collagen hydrolysate: 10 g per daily serving

The largest component in terms of quantity is collagen hydrolysate, i.e. collagen that has been broken down into short fragments. These fragments are called collagen peptides. They do not gel and dissolve in cold water. At 10 g, the hydrolysate makes up most of the 14 g of powder. The manufacturer does not state a collagen type or the animal species. Collagen is always of animal origin, so the drink is not vegan. You can read more about collagen types and terms in the guide Understanding collagen.

Hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and coenzyme Q10

Hyaluronic acid (100 mg)

Hyaluronic acid is a long-chain polysaccharide that the body produces itself. It occurs naturally in connective tissue, in the skin and in the synovial fluid.

Glucosamine (500 mg)

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that the body also produces itself. It is found in cartilage, among other places. In the Complex Drink, glucosamine is contained as sodium glucosamine sulphate from shellfish. This is important for people with allergies: the drink is not suitable if you have a shellfish allergy.

Coenzyme Q10 (50 mg)

Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance that occurs in almost all body cells and is produced by the body itself. It is taken in with food, for example with meat, fish and nuts. The name ubiquinone indicates that the substance is found almost everywhere in the body.

Astaxanthin and lycopene: two carotenoids

Carotenoids are fat-soluble pigments that give plants, algae and some animals their yellow, orange or red colour. The drink contains two of them.

• Astaxanthin (4 mg): a reddish carotenoid. In the Complex Drink, it comes from astaxanthin-rich oleoresin from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis. In nature, astaxanthin is responsible, among other things, for the pink colour of salmon and prawns.
• Lycopene (6 mg): a red carotenoid known mainly from tomatoes.

For astaxanthin, the manufacturer gives two mandatory notes. Products containing astaxanthin-rich oleoresin from Haematococcus pluvialis algae are not suitable for children and adolescents under 10 years of age. In addition, the drink should not be consumed if other food supplements containing astaxanthin esters are consumed on the same day.

Vitamins and manganese with authorised claims

The claims of Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 apply to the vitamins and the manganese in the drink, provided that a daily serving supplies at least 15% NRV. This is the case for all five nutrients.

• Vitamin C (180 mg, 225% NRV): Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
• Vitamin E (30 mg, 250% NRV): Vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
• Biotin (75 µg, 150% NRV): Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin.
• Manganese (2 mg, 100% NRV): Manganese contributes to the normal formation of connective tissue.
• Vitamin D3 (7.5 µg, 150% NRV): Vitamin D3 is contained as cholecalciferol.

Vitamin D and vitamin E are fat-soluble vitamins. If you also take a multivitamin preparation, add up the amounts in both products and keep an eye on your total intake.

Ingredients list, flavour and diet

The manufacturer's ingredients list reads: collagen hydrolysate, sodium glucosamine sulphate from shellfish, acidifier citric acid, thickener agar-agar (polysaccharide from algae), vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate), biotin, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), coenzyme Q10, flavouring, orange fruit powder, astaxanthin-rich oleoresin from Haematococcus pluvialis algae, hyaluronic acid, lycopene, sweetener sucralose, manganese sulphate.

Agar-agar is a plant-based thickener made from algae, and citric acid serves as an acidifier. The orange flavour comes from orange fruit powder and flavouring. The drink is sweetened with sucralose and is sugar-free. According to the manufacturer, it is also gluten-free and low in lactose. As collagen and glucosamine are of animal origin, it is not vegan. You can read who the drink is suitable for and who it is not suitable for in the guide Who is the Complex Drink suitable for?

Manufacturer and origin

Vita Collagen Complex Drink comes from Vita Health Care AG in Basel and is made in Switzerland. Every amount is listed in the nutrition table, and one pack contains 30 individually packed sachets that are easy to take with you. You can find more collagen products with hyaluronic acid, biotin or collagen UC-II in the Collagen & Beauty category.