Spanish life sciences company Bioiberica has partnered with Lactalis Spain, a subsidiary of French dairy group Lactalis, to launch a collagen-enriched milk drink in Spain.
The collaboration has resulted in the debut of Puleva Vita Calcio Colágeno, a functional dairy beverage positioned to support joint health.
The company said the drink is Spain’s “first” milk beverage enriched with native type II collagen, Collavant n2.
It has been developed to provide a daily milk-based format aimed at consumers seeking joint support through everyday foods.
Bioiberica marketing director Antonio Vendrell said: “The launch of Puleva Vita Calcio Colágeno is both a success story in itself, and a positive sign for future innovations. Its development demonstrates the successful application of Collavant n2 in a mainstream consumer beverage, highlighting our ability to integrate our high-quality bioactive ingredients across diverse consumer segments.”
Bioiberica said the inclusion of Collavant n2 is supported by clinical evidence demonstrating efficacy at a daily dose of 40 mg.
Its most recent clinical study evaluated the effects of six months of supplementation at this level on urinary CTX-II, a biomarker linked to collagen degradation and cartilage breakdown, in healthy individuals experiencing exercise-related joint discomfort.
In a sub-group reporting higher discomfort levels – defined as a visual analogue scale (VAS) score above 40 mm during movement – participants receiving Collavant n2 showed an 18.3% reduction in CTX-II levels, compared with a 20.6% increase among those in the placebo group.
The company said the findings build on existing evidence indicating that Collavant n2 may help reduce exercise-related joint discomfort while supporting mobility, quality of life and cartilage health.
Lactalis Puleva brand manager Cristina Torres Antelo added: “Collagen is an ingredient for which there is increasing scientific evidence. Consumers are increasingly confident in its benefits. Puleva Vita Calcio is already the leading brand in the calcium-enriched dairy drink category, and now this new formulation offers an innovative, practical, and natural solution to the growing demand for collagen in Spain.”
According to the companies, the collaboration is intended to demonstrate how clinically supported ingredients can be incorporated into mainstream dairy products, reflecting a shared focus on health-oriented product development.
