Vital Proteins vs Sports Research: 18 g vs 10 g Protein

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Advanced lists 18 g protein per 3 tablespoons (about 21 g); Sports Research Collagen Peptides lists 10 g per 11 g scoop. Both labels show that protein at 0% or under 1% of the Daily Value, and only Vital Proteins adds vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides (Advanced, with HA + Vitamin C) and Sports Research Collagen Peptides are both bovine collagen powders, but their labels differ in serving size, protein and collagen grams, vitamin C, sodium, and added ingredients. Per serving, the Vital Proteins label lists 18 g protein and 20 g collagen peptides from 3 tablespoons (about 21 g), while Sports Research lists 10 g protein and 11 g collagen peptides from one 11 g scoop. This page places the two Nutrition Facts panels side by side so you can compare them on the same basis.

Key takeaways

• Vital Proteins Advanced lists 18 g protein and 20 g collagen peptides per 3 tablespoons (about 21 g). Sports Research lists 10 g protein and 11 g collagen peptides per 1 scoop (11 g).
• Vital Proteins lists 90 mg vitamin C (100% DV) and 110 mg sodium (5% DV). Sports Research lists 55 mg sodium (2% DV) and no vitamin C line.
• Vital Proteins shows 0%* DV for its 18 g of protein, while Sports Research shows <1%** DV for its 10 g. Both labels mark collagen as Daily Value not established. The FDA explains how the percent Daily Value works on Nutrition and Supplement Facts labels.
• The Vital Proteins label calls collagen peptides an incomplete protein because they do not provide all the essential amino acids.

How do the two collagen labels compare at a glance?

Vital Proteins Advanced lists 18 g protein and 90 mg vitamin C per 3 Tbsp (about 21 g). Sports Research lists 10 g protein and no vitamin C line per 1 scoop (11 g). The serving sizes differ, so the per-serving numbers are not directly interchangeable. The table lists the figures printed on each label.

Label item	Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Advanced (20 oz label)	Sports Research Collagen Peptides (16 oz label)
Serving size	3 Tbsp (about 21 g)	1 scoop (11 g)
Servings per container	About 27 (20 oz); about 12 (9.33 oz)	About 41
Calories	70	40
Protein	18 g, 0%* DV	10 g, <1%** DV
Collagen peptides	20 g from bovine, Daily Value not established	11 g hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides, Daily Value not established
Vitamin C	90 mg, 100% DV	Not listed
Sodium	110 mg, 5% DV	55 mg, 2% DV
Hyaluronic acid	120 mg, Daily Value not established	Not listed

The Sports Research product page describes its 11 grams per scoop as an average.

How many grams of protein and collagen does each serving contain?

Vital Proteins Advanced lists 18 g of protein and 20 g of collagen peptides per 3 tablespoon serving (about 21 g), while Sports Research lists 10 g of protein and 11 g of collagen peptides per 1 scoop (11 g). The Vital Proteins serving is larger, so its gram totals reflect a larger amount of powder.

The Sports Research product page describes the product as containing 11 grams of Type I and III collagen peptides and 10 grams of protein in 40 calories per serving. Its label names the ingredient as hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides.

When comparing these panels, check three lines in order: the serving size, the protein grams, and the collagen grams. Those three lines show whether a difference comes from the amount of powder in each serving or from the composition of the powder.

What is the scoop size and how many servings does each container hold?

Vital Proteins uses a 3 tablespoon serving of about 21 g and lists about 27 servings in its 20 oz size. Sports Research uses an 11 g scoop and lists about 41 servings in its 16 oz size.

Vital Proteins also sells a 9.33 oz size, and its label shows the same per-serving values with about 12 servings per container. Sports Research lists 16 oz, 32 oz, 3.9 oz, and 20 packet sizes on its product page.

The directions differ in format. The Vital Proteins label says to combine 3 level tablespoons with 8 fl oz of liquid and mix thoroughly. The Sports Research suggested use says adults combine 1 scoop into a favorite beverage or meal 1 to 2 times daily. These are the directions each manufacturer printed.

How much vitamin C and sodium is in each serving?

Vital Proteins Advanced lists 110 mg of sodium per serving, and Sports Research lists 55 mg. Vital Proteins Advanced also lists 90 mg of vitamin C (100% DV), while the Sports Research label has no vitamin C line.

The Vital Proteins vitamin C is listed as coming from calcium ascorbate. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that the body needs vitamin C to make collagen, a protein required to help wounds heal. Its adult recommended amounts are 90 mg per day for men and 75 mg per day for women, and it sets an adult upper limit of 2,000 mg, which includes intakes from all sources: food, beverages, and supplements.

The sodium figures on both panels are per serving, so the difference between the two products is 55 mg per serving.

Why does the protein %DV differ between the two labels?

The percent Daily Value for protein is calculated from a corrected protein amount, not from the grams printed on the panel. Vital Proteins shows 0%* DV for 18 g of protein, and Sports Research shows <1%** DV for 10 g.

Under 21 CFR 101.36(b)(2)(iii), the percent Daily Value for protein on supplement labels is based on the corrected amount of protein specified in 21 CFR 101.9(c)(7)(ii). That corrected amount equals the grams of protein per serving multiplied by the amino acid score corrected for protein digestibility.

Neither brand disclosed the protein digestibility value it used, so the corrected amount cannot be calculated from the labels. The correction can lower the printed %DV, so the 0%* and <1%** figures reflect the corrected amount rather than the full gram count.

What does the Vital Proteins Advanced label add that Sports Research does not list?

Vital Proteins Advanced adds 90 mg vitamin C (100% DV) and 120 mg hyaluronic acid (Daily Value not established) per 3 Tbsp serving, according to the label and its product page. Neither vitamin C nor hyaluronic acid appears on the Sports Research label.

The Vital Proteins product page lists three ingredients: collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C. The page also says the product is made without gluten or dairy and has no artificial sweeteners.

The label does not establish a skin, joint, or hair benefit from collagen or hyaluronic acid, and the NIH vitamin C fact sheet does not make such a claim either. This article therefore does not assign one to either product.

What does the Sports Research label disclose about amino acids, sourcing, and processing?

The Sports Research label lists one ingredient, hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides, and an amino acid profile of glycine 2,400 mg, proline 1,330 mg, and hydroxyproline 1,020 mg per serving. The label also states the product is a product of Korea, that bovine hides are sourced from the USA, New Zealand, and/or Australia, and that it is packaged in the USA.

For Vital Proteins, the country of origin and hide source are not disclosed on the product page, and an amino acid profile does not appear on its label. Vital Proteins third-party certification also is not disclosed on that page.

Is the 'incomplete protein' statement relevant when comparing these labels?

The Vital Proteins label states that collagen peptides are an incomplete protein because they do not provide all the essential amino acids the body needs. The Sports Research label does not carry that sentence.

The statement relates to the protein quality factor behind the %DV difference discussed above. The Sports Research amino acid profile lists three amino acids: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. It is a statement about protein quality, not about the number of grams.

How do the labels' allergen and dietary-claim statements differ?

The Vital Proteins label states it is made without gluten or dairy, and it also says the product is manufactured in a facility that processes milk, fish, and tree nuts. Sports Research displays a Certified NSF Gluten-Free badge, and its label details do not show a facility allergen statement.

• Vital Proteins: made without gluten or dairy, no artificial sweeteners, and a facility statement covering milk, fish, and tree nuts.
• Sports Research: single ingredient hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides, Certified NSF Gluten-Free, Informed Choice, and IGEN Non-GMO Tested badges.

The Vital Proteins label's own wording is that it is manufactured in a facility that processes milk, fish, and tree nuts, so people with those allergies should read the full allergen statement on the package they hold.

Who checks each tub, and for what?

The Sports Research product page displays three quality badges: Informed Choice, IGEN Non-GMO Tested, and Certified NSF Gluten-Free. Each badge names a different kind of claim, so each should be read on its own terms. The page does not state whether Informed Choice covers every production lot, so the badge alone does not show lot-by-lot coverage.

Vital Proteins third-party certification was not disclosed on its product page, so no badge comparison can be made for that brand from the label information described here.

This comparison does not include prices. Current prices were not included because they change often, so check the retailer listing before comparing cost per serving.

For more protein-label comparisons, see RYSE Loaded Protein vs Core Power: Powder vs Shake, Label by Label or Impossible vs Beyond Burger: 6 g vs 2 g Saturated Fat.