Rousselot, a brand under Darling Ingredients, has been granted patents in Europe, Japan and China for its Colartix ingredient, with applications pending for Brazil and the US. A proprietary blend of collagen peptides and chondroitin sulfate, Colartix is patented under the title of “collagen hydrolysate composition for reducing joint pain after exercise”.
“These patents not only protect our unique hydrolyzed cartilage matrix, but also give our partners in these regions exclusive confidence in marketing products backed by proven innovation” Valérie Lemarcq, Global Product Manager Health & Nutrition at Rousselot, told NutraIngredients.
“In fast-growing markets like Japan and China, where demand for joint health solutions is driven both by aging populations and increasingly active lifestyles, this protection strengthens Colartix’s positioning and consumer trust.”
She added that these patents reinforce the company’s ability to expand Colartix’s footprint across Asia and support brand owners in launching innovative, premium joint care products.
Since its launch in 2022, Colartix has been used in a variety of joint care products on the market, mainly in the form of dietary supplements.
According to Lemarcq, its versatility makes it well suited for a wide range of application formats, including powders, functional gummies, shots, tablets, and hard capsules.
“Because it only requires a daily dose of 1 gram, is free from additives and E numbers, and blends easily with other ingredients, Colartix gives brands plenty of flexibility to create clean, safe, and convenient products for consumers,” she said.
“A patented, science-backed ingredient that delivers results with a small daily dose provides differentiation in the competitive supplements space.”
Key drivers of joint health category
Rousselot anticipates steady, sustained growth for the joint health category in the next few years that is driven by several trends.
“The market for mobility-related products is already strong. By 2026, dietary supplements alone are expected to reach $15.6bn in retail sales, with functional foods and beverages close behind at $15bn,” Lemarcq explained.
“Demand will continue to rise as aging populations, increasingly active lifestyles, and reports predicting a rise in the number of adults affected by obesity worldwide all contribute to higher rates of mobility challenges. This creates a strong need for solutions that support joint health.”
As a result, consumers are likely to place more value on ingredients backed by solid scientific evidence that have proven to improve joint comfort, flexibility, and long-term mobility.
“We can expect greater interest in clinically researched supplements and functional formats that make joint care support easy to integrate into daily routines,” she said. “In short, efficacy, credibility, and convenience are the key drivers shaping this category’s next chapter.”
Across-the-board improvements
Colartix is a hydrolyzed cartilage matrix of naturally occurring collagen peptides and chondroitin sulfate, which work together to ease joint stiffness and discomfort.
While the mechanism of action of combined collagen and chondroitin sulfate needs further investigation, existing research points to joint-protective properties.
In addition, hydrolyzed collagen provides bioactive peptides, which have been shown to possess multiple health benefits due to their ability to upregulate the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins in various tissues.
These effects of Colartix were elucidated in a placebo-controlled study that used a digitally enabled protocol, with findings published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Over 200 healthy men and women, aged 18 to 72, tracked their daily physical activity and joint pain scores through a simple mobile app.
Participants took either 1g of Colartix or 1g of maltodextrin (placebo) each day and recorded their experiences. Everyone in the study stayed active, despite varying routines ranging from brisk walking and gardening to more intense amateur sports training.
The study found that three weeks of daily Colartix intake led to a consistent decrease in joint discomfort.
As the study was done in a real-world setting with a diverse group, the researchers concluded that these improvements were seen across all ages, genders, and activity levels.
