NT-II™ Collagen for Joint Discomfort and Function

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a natural marine supplement called NT-II™ (Salmon Undenatured Type II Collagen) can help lower knee discomfort caused by physical activity in otherwise healthy adults. Many active people experience knee pain when performing daily movements like climbing stairs, walking long distances, or squatting, even if they do not have a medical diagnosis such as arthritis. This discomfort can limit mobility, impact exercise routines, and reduce overall quality of life. This study is being conducted to determine whether NT-II™, taken as a once-daily oral supplement, can reduce this type of activity-related knee discomfort more effectively than a commonly used joint supplement containing glucosamine and chondroitin.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

Does NT-II™ reduce knee discomfort caused by repeated activity over a 12-week period?

Does NT-II™ improve movement and quality of life compared to glucosamine-chondroitin?

Researchers will compare two different doses of NT-II™ (240 mg and 480 mg) to glucosamine (1500 mg) plus chondroitin (1300 mg), which is used as an active comparator. All three products will be taken once daily for 12 weeks.

Participants will:

Take their assigned supplement daily by mouth for 12 weeks

Track knee discomfort once per week using a pain rating scale called a visual analog scale (VAS) while doing an activity that usually causes discomfort, such as climbing stairs, walking, or squatting

Complete short surveys online about joint function, pain, and quality of life (including KOOS and SF-12 questionnaires)

Use a mobile app to perform simple knee range of motion tests at home

Wear a fitness tracker to monitor daily physical activity, such as step count and stair climbing

Collect two small blood samples at home using a finger-prick kit to check for changes in inflammation-related biomarkers

This study is for U.S.-based adults between the ages of 20 and 65 who are in generally good health but have had mild to moderate knee discomfort caused by physical activity for at least three months. The pain must be triggered by specific weight-bearing movements and be relieved by rest. Participants must not have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other joint diseases. Individuals with recent knee injuries, major surgeries, or injections in the past six months cannot take part. Participants should not be using NSAIDs, turmeric, collagen, or other joint-related supplements during the study.

All study activities will take place remotely using a secure digital platform. There are no in-person clinic visits required. Eligible participants will receive all study materials by mail, including supplements, a wearable device, and an at-home blood sample collection kit. They will also be given access to a secure digital platform (Alethios) where they can complete questionnaires, enter pain ratings, and receive study instructions. Study staff will monitor progress, check for missing data, and assist participants through secure communication tools built into the platform.

The primary outcome of the study is the change in participant-reported knee discomfort, measured using a nominated activity VAS score (VASNA), from baseline to week 12. Additional outcomes will explore changes in function, mobility, physical activity, heart rate variability, and inflammatory biomarkers. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) will also be used to examine whether thoughts and feelings about pain influence symptom reporting and treatment response.

This trial is sponsored by Hofseth BioCare ASA and is being conducted entirely online to improve access, lower participant burden, and support real-world understanding of joint health supplements. Study results may inform the use of NT-II™ as a marine-based nutritional strategy to support joint comfort in active individuals.

Conditions

• Activity-Related Knee Discomfort
• Joint Discomfort
• Functional Joint Pain
• Functional Knee Pain
• Knee Acute and Chronic Pain

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

NT-II™ (240 mg)

A once-daily capsule containing 240 mg of NT-II™, a marine-derived undenatured type II collagen supplement obtained from enzymatically processed salmon cartilage and bone. Taken orally for 12 weeks.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

NT-II™ 480 mg

Two capsules of NT-II™ (each 240 mg), taken orally once daily for a total of 480 mg/day over 12 weeks. Sourced from salmon bone and cartilage to support joint health via oral tolerance.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Glucosamine/Chondroitin

A combined dietary supplement containing 1500 mg glucosamine and 1300 mg chondroitin, taken orally once daily for 12 weeks. This supplement serves as the active comparator and is widely used to support joint structure and function.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hofseth Biocare ASA

  lead INDUSTRY

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-01-20

Primary Completion

2026-07-15

Completion

2026-10-15

Countries

• United States

Study Locations