Eggshell membrane
Also called natural eggshell membrane, NEM, ESM, hydrolyzed eggshell membrane, water-soluble eggshell membrane, partially hydrolysed chicken eggshell membrane.
Best grade C across 7 graded outcomes Other Last checked
The short answer
From 9 sourcesEggshell membrane is the thin film lining a hen's eggshell, sold in 300-500 mg daily capsules for joint comfort. Several small, mostly industry-funded trials in knee osteoarthritis found modest, inconsistent gains in pain or stiffness, and a 2024 meta-analysis found a small overall benefit. People with egg allergy should not use it.
Every graded outcome on this page
7 rows · line = participants- CGrade CKnee osteoarthritis pain and function (pooled)Knee arthritisn 530
- CGrade CKnee osteoarthritis pain and daily-life functionKnee arthritisn 150
- CGrade CKnee function, walking distance and stiffness in osteoarthritisKnee arthritisn 88
- CGrade CKnee pain and quadriceps strength in osteoarthritisKnee arthritisn 75
- CGrade CKnee osteoarthritis pain and stiffnessKnee arthritisn 67
- CGrade CExercise-induced joint pain, stiffness and cartilage breakdown markerJoint comfort after exercisen 60
- DGrade DSkin firmness and elasticitySkinn 58
- 4 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- Meta-analysis (2024)
- 7 placebo-controlled trials in knee osteoarthritis reviewed, 5 pooled; small improvement in total WOMAC score (SMD -0.34) and pain (SMD -0.23)6
- Mixed primary endpoints
- In the 150-person trial, the main pain-rating endpoint did not differ from placebo; benefits appeared only on the KOOS questionnaire3
- Industry funding
- Each of the five trials summarized here was sponsored by a membrane supplier (ESM Technologies, Biova, DEPP BV or Torolis) or had authors employed by one12345
- Egg allergy
- Health Canada-licensed products carry the contraindication: do not use if you have a known allergy to eggs or egg by-products7
What it is
Eggshell membrane is the thin protein layer inside a hen's eggshell, dried or partly hydrolysed and sold for joint comfort.
How it works
ProposedThe membrane contains proteins and glycosaminoglycans, including small amounts of hyaluronic acid. Supplier-run trials propose that it supplies cartilage building blocks or calms immune responses in the joint (oral tolerance); one trial found lower CTX-II, a marker of cartilage collagen breakdown, after exercise. These mechanisms are not established in people.1345
Forms, side by side
2 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Eggshell membrane forms compared
2 forms| 2 forms | Natural (partially hydrolysed) eggshell membrane capsules | Water-soluble eggshell membrane hydrolysate |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | No head-to-head human data1 | No head-to-head human data2 |
| GI tolerance | No serious adverse events in the 8-week and 2-week trials; one 12-week trial noted more nausea mid-study, which coincided with a flu and RSV epidemic.135 | Reported as safe over 12 weeks in 88 adults.2 |
| Studied for | Knee osteoarthritis pain and stiffness, joint comfort after exercise | Knee osteoarthritis function |
- Natural (partially hydrolysed) eggshell membrane capsules
- Water-soluble eggshell membrane hydrolysate
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
7 graded outcomes, largest study first7 graded outcomes: 5 improved, 2 mixed. The largest, a 2024 meta-analysis of 530 people on knee osteoarthritis pain and function (pooled), found an improvement.
1Knee osteoarthritis pain and function (pooled)
Improved · Grade C · Meta-analysis, 530 people, 2024
Adults with knee osteoarthritis in 5 placebo-controlled trials (7 reviewed)
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee osteoarthritis pain and function (pooled) | Improved | 530 | Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2024 | Adults with knee osteoarthritis in 5 placebo-controlled trials (7 reviewed) |
| Knee osteoarthritis pain and daily-life function | Mixed | 150 | Grade C · RCT, 2021 | Adults aged 40-75 with knee osteoarthritis |
| Knee function, walking distance and stiffness in osteoarthritis | Mixed | 88 | Grade C · RCT, 2019 | Adults with knee osteoarthritis, USA |
| Knee pain and quadriceps strength in osteoarthritis | Improved | 75 | Grade C · RCT, 2022 | Adults with knee osteoarthritis (functional grade I-III) and chronic knee pain, Spain; mean age about 38 |
| Knee osteoarthritis pain and stiffness | Improved | 67 | Grade C · RCT, 2009 | Adults with knee osteoarthritis (multicenter, USA) |
| Exercise-induced joint pain, stiffness and cartilage breakdown marker | Improved | 60 | Grade C · RCT, 2018 | Healthy postmenopausal women doing a step exercise regimen, USA |
| Skin firmness and elasticity | Improved | 58 | Grade D · RCT, 2025 | Healthy women aged 40–70 with signs of skin ageing (Spain); 62 randomized |
Every graded row
7 rowsShowing 7 of 7 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CKnee osteoarthritis pain and function (pooled)Knee arthritisSmall benefit (SMD −0.34)Meta-analysis · 5 studies
n 530 · 2024
Improved Total WOMAC score improved (SMD −0.34, 95% CI −0.56 to −0.13), as did the pain (SMD −0.23) and function (SMD −0.33) subscales; stiffness and VAS pain did not differ significantly from placebo.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 5 studies, n = 530, 2024
- Population
- Adults with knee osteoarthritis in 5 placebo-controlled trials (7 reviewed)
- Form
- Eggshell membrane products (various)
- Dose
- 300–500 mg/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks to 90 days across pooled trials
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 39203777 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CKnee osteoarthritis pain and daily-life functionKnee arthritisPrimary endpoint nullRCT
n 150 · 2021
Mixed The primary 0-10 pain rating at 6 weeks fell similarly with membrane and placebo. KOOS Pain and Daily Life scores improved more with membrane from week 1 and stayed better through week 12.
- Design
- RCT, n = 150, 2021
- Population
- Adults aged 40-75 with knee osteoarthritis
- Form
- Mildly processed eggshell membrane
- Dose
- 300 mg once daily
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 32633648 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CKnee function, walking distance and stiffness in osteoarthritisKnee arthritisBenefit only after normalizationRCT
n 88 · 2019
Mixed Without normalization, WOMAC, 6-minute walk and range of motion did not improve vs placebo. After normalizing to baseline, stiffness improved by day 5 and walking distance by week 12, most in the worst performers. Found safe.
- Design
- RCT, n = 88, 2019
- Population
- Adults with knee osteoarthritis, USA
- Form
- Water-soluble eggshell membrane hydrolysate (BiovaFlex)
- Dose
- 450 mg once daily
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 31381494 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CKnee pain and quadriceps strength in osteoarthritisKnee arthritisLess pain at 500 mgRCT
n 75 · 2022
Improved Pain fell in all groups including placebo; the 500 mg group had a significantly larger pain reduction than placebo and gained knee strength on isometric and isokinetic tests. No product-related adverse events.
- Design
- RCT, n = 75, 2022
- Population
- Adults with knee osteoarthritis (functional grade I-III) and chronic knee pain, Spain; mean age about 38
- Form
- ESM eggshell membrane (Torolis)
- Dose
- 300 mg or 500 mg once daily
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 35684140 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CKnee osteoarthritis pain and stiffnessKnee arthritisLess pain and stiffnessRCT
n 67 · 2009
Improved Pain and stiffness responses improved vs placebo at 10, 30 and 60 days; WOMAC function and total scores were not significantly better, though they trended that way. No serious adverse events.
- Design
- RCT, n = 67, 2009
- Population
- Adults with knee osteoarthritis (multicenter, USA)
- Form
- NEM natural eggshell membrane
- Dose
- 500 mg once daily
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 1 · PubMed 19340512 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CExercise-induced joint pain, stiffness and cartilage breakdown markerJoint comfort after exerciseFaster recovery, lower CTX-IIRCT
n 60 · 2018
Improved CTX-II fell vs placebo after 1 week (-17.2%) and 2 weeks (-9.9%). Pain right after exercise did not differ; recovery pain improved by day 8 and recovery stiffness by day 4.
- Design
- RCT, n = 60, 2018
- Population
- Healthy postmenopausal women doing a step exercise regimen, USA
- Form
- NEM natural eggshell membrane
- Dose
- 500 mg once daily
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 29497287 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DSkin firmness and elasticitySkinImprovedRCT
n 58 · 2025
Improved Skin firmness/flexibility and elasticity improved more with eggshell membrane than with hydrolyzed collagen or placebo after 57 days.
- Design
- RCT, n = 58, 2025
- Population
- Healthy women aged 40–70 with signs of skin ageing (Spain); 62 randomized
- Form
- Fresh eggshell membrane (MKARE)
- Dose
- 300 mg/day (compared with 8,000 mg/day hydrolyzed collagen or placebo)
- Duration
- 57 days
- Source
- Reference 9 · PubMed 41613921 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
When trials measured an effect
3 outcomes| Outcome | Measured at | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Knee pain and stiffness | Day 10 (first assessment) | 500 mg/day NEM trial in 67 adults: pain and stiffness responses better than placebo at 10, 30 and 60 days1 |
| Knee pain on the KOOS questionnaire | Week 1 | 300 mg/day trial in 150 adults: KOOS Pain and Daily Life scores improved from week 1, while the primary pain rating at 6 weeks did not differ from placebo3 |
| Knee stiffness (normalized analysis) | Day 5 | 450 mg/day water-soluble membrane trial in 88 adults; only after normalizing to baseline2 |
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Interactions
0 agentsNone found in our sources.
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Eggshell membrane and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Eggshell membrane.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
4 groups- Egg allergy
- Health Canada-licensed eggshell membrane products state: do not use if you have a known allergy to eggs or egg by-products.7
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Health Canada-licensed products advise consulting a health care practitioner before use if pregnant or breastfeeding.7
- People on medicines
- No drug-interaction data were found in ODS, NCCIH, LactMed, LiverTox, Health Canada or EMA sources. NCCIH advises telling your health care providers about every supplement you use.8
- Worsening joint symptoms
- Health Canada labels advise consulting a health care practitioner if symptoms worsen.7
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
6 answersDoes eggshell membrane help knee arthritis?
Does eggshell membrane help skin?
A 2025 trial in 58 women found 300 mg/day of a fresh membrane product improved skin firmness and elasticity more than placebo or 8,000 mg/day of hydrolyzed collagen after 57 days. It was small and partly industry-linked (grade D).9
What are the side effects of eggshell membrane?
Is it safe to take eggshell membrane long term?
Can I use it with an egg allergy?
No. Health Canada-licensed products carry a contraindication for anyone with a known allergy to eggs or egg by-products.7
Sources
9 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
9 sources- 1Eggshell membrane in the treatment of pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.RCT Clin Rheumatol, 2009 · PMID 19340512
- 2A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Prospective Clinical Trial Evaluating Water-Soluble Chicken Eggshell Membrane for Improvement in Joint Health in Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis.RCT J Med Food, 2019 · PMID 31381494
- 3Mildly Processed Natural Eggshell Membrane Alleviates Joint Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.RCT J Med Food, 2021 · PMID 32633648
- 4Randomised Clinical Trial to Analyse the Efficacy of Eggshell Membrane to Improve Joint Functionality in Knee Osteoarthritis.RCT Nutrients, 2022 · PMID 35684140
- 5Beneficial effects of natural eggshell membrane versus placebo in exercise-induced joint pain, stiffness, and cartilage turnover in healthy, postmenopausal women.RCT Clin Interv Aging, 2018 · PMID 29497287
- 6Efficacy of Eggshell Membrane in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Meta-analysis Nutrients, 2024 · PMID 39203777
- 7Licensed Natural Health Products Database: partially hydrolysed chicken eggshell membrane 500 mg capsules (NPN 80085916)Label Health Canada, 2018 · health-products.canada.ca
- 8Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
- 9Comparative effects of MKARE® eggshell membrane and hydrolyzed collagen as nutricosmetics on skin biophysical properties: a randomized clinical trial.RCT Front Nutr, 2025 · PMID 41613921
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence, time to effect, FAQ, questions, related | Added the 2024 meta-analysis as its own graded row (5 pooled trials, 530 participants from the full-text table, grade C) and a 2025 skin trial (58 women, grade D). Added time-to-effect rows from the trial abstracts (day 5 to week 1 to day 10). Replaced FAQ items that repeated the page's own dose and timing questions with side effects, long-term safety and skin; added page questions and the bones-and-joints hub. Checked: no LactMed or LiverTox entry, no ODS or NCCIH page and no interaction data in PubMed, so interactions stay empty and the pregnancy note stays with the Health Canada label wording. Two trials in the meta-analysis (Eskiyurt 2019; Casado-Santos 2024) are not indexed in PubMed and were not given rows; a 2025 network meta-analysis of knee supplements (PMID 40806131) reported no eggshell-specific estimate in its abstract and was not added. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.