Eggshell Membrane for Knee Arthritis: Does It Really Work?

By Joe Cannon, MS
MS Exercise Science | BS Chemistry & Biology
Investigating dietary supplement research since the 1990s

Updated September 2026

Eggshell membrane supplements have become popular for knee pain and osteoarthritis. Some companies claim they can reduce pain and stiffness quickly, improve joint function, and even support damaged cartilage. There is actually more human research on eggshell membrane than I expected. But that doesn't mean every claim is proven. Here's what the research says about eggshell membrane supplements, how quickly they may work, the doses used in studies, side effects, and whether they really rebuild cartilage.

What Is Eggshell Membrane?

Eggshell membrane is not the hard white shell.

It is the thin membrane located between the eggshell and the egg white.

The membrane naturally contains a mixture of proteins and other substances found in connective tissues, including:

• Collagen
• Elastin
• Hyaluronic acid
• Chondroitin sulfate
• Glucosamine
• Other proteins and glycosaminoglycans

The exact amounts vary depending on how the eggshell membrane is processed. One study of an eggshell membrane ingredient reported that more than 90% of the material consisted of proteins, while compounds such as chondroitin, glucosamine, and hyaluronic acid were present in much smaller amounts. I think that's important because supplement advertisements sometimes make it sound like eggshell membrane is basically a combination of collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid.

Does Eggshell Membrane Help Knee Arthritis?

There have now been several placebo-controlled human studies.

Overall, the evidence suggests eggshell membrane may help reduce osteoarthritis symptoms, particularly pain and difficulty performing everyday activities.

The improvements, however, are generally modest.

Here's a quick look at the major studies.

Let's look at the studies that matter most.

2009 Study: 500 mg of Eggshell Membrane Daily

One of the first randomized trials involved 67 people with knee osteoarthritis.

They took either 500 mg of Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM) or a placebo each day for 8 weeks.

Pain and stiffness improved significantly compared with placebo. Some improvements were seen after only 10 days.

However, the overall pain scores and physical function did not improve significantly compared with placebo.

The study was funded by the company that manufactured NEM. One researcher worked for the company, and two others had served as paid consultants.

So this was an encouraging study, but not a slam dunk.

2019 NEM Eggshell Membrane Study: 500 mg Daily

A larger study examined people with moderate knee osteoarthritis who took 500 mg of NEM per day.

After 30 days, the difference between NEM and placebo was approximately:

• 15% greater improvement in overall arthrits symptoms
• 12% greater reduction in pain
• 18% greater reduction in stiffness
• 15% greater improvement in function

Interestingly, stiffness improved after 7 days. This is why some ads claim ESM works after just 7 days. However, if you dig deeper, the pain reduction was not significantly better than what placebo takers experienced at day 7.

The study was funded by Generica, and the NEM ingredient was supplied by ESM Technologies.

2021 Eggshell Membrane Study: 300 mg Daily

This study involved 150 people with knee osteoarthritis.

Half took 300 mg of eggshell membrane daily, while the others received a placebo.

The main general pain score declined in both groups at approximately the same rate. In other words, eggshell membrane did not clearly outperform placebo on the study's primary general pain measurement.

However, measurements of knee pain during specific activities and ability to perform daily activities did improve more with eggshell membrane.

In other words, the researchers found ESM improved some things but not other things.

2022 Eggshell Membrane Study: 300 vs. 500 mg

This study directly compared 300 mg and 500 mg per day with placebo.

After eight weeks, pain decreased in all three groups.

On a 10-point pain scale:

• Placebo dropped from about 4.9 to 3.6
• 300 mg dropped from about 4.7 to 2.3
• 500 mg dropped from about 5.4 to 1.9

The 500 mg group had the greatest reduction in pain.

However, the overall arthritis symptom score did not differ significantly among the groups.

What this means is that 500 mg may work better for pain than 300 mg, but this one study is not enough to establish an ideal dose for everyone.

The study was sponsored by the company that supplied the eggshell membrane ingredient.

2024 Korean Eggshell Membrane Study: 500 mg Daily

A Korean study is particularly interesting because it was funded by the Korean government rather than an eggshell membrane manufacturer.

Almost 100 people with mostly early-stage knee osteoarthritis took 500 mg of NEM or placebo for 12 weeks.

Pain, stiffness, physical function, and overall arthritis symptoms improved more than placebo.

These researchers also looked at cartilage markers, inflammatory markers, and X-rays.

More on that below.

2026 Eggshell Membrane Study: 600 mg Daily

This randomized placebo-controlled study looked at eggshell membrane in people with knee osteoarthritis. Participants took 600 mg per day for 12 weeks.

Those taking eggshell membrane reported greater improvements in walking pain and overall knee arthritis symptoms than those taking placebo. However, tests of physical function including getting up from a chair and walking and a squat test, did not significantly improve compared with placebo.

The study was funded by NOVAWells, and several researchers were affiliated with the company. The paper also states that the trial was conducted at an independent site and that the analysis was performed by an outside research organization.

What Does the Overall Research Show?

A 2024 systematic review looked at seven randomized controlled studies of eggshell membrane for knee osteoarthritis.

Researchers were able to combine the results from five studies.

Overall, eggshell membrane produced a small improvement in total arthritis symptoms, pain, and physical function compared with placebo.

But feelings of stiffness was not significantly improved when the studies were combined.

Pain measured with a visual analog scale also did not show a statistically significant benefit overall.

So even when the studies are combined, the evidence isn't positive across the board.

The review also found that some trials had potential problems with bias and noted that manufacturer sponsorship was common among the studies.

How Quickly Does Eggshell Membrane Work for Arthritis?

You may see claims that eggshell membrane works within 7 to 10 days.

There is some evidence for this, but I wouldn't guarantee it for everyone.

For example:

• The 2009 NEM study reported improvements in pain and stiffness by approximately day 10.
• The 2019 study found improved stiffness after seven days, but pain wasn't significantly better than placebo yet.

Based on the research so far, some people may notice an improvement within the first couple of weeks, but most studies have lasted about 8 to 12 weeks.

Does Eggshell Membrane Rebuild Cartilage?

Eggshell membrane contains compounds associated with cartilage and connective tissue. That makes the idea biologically interesting.

But taking substances found in cartilage doesn't mean they travel to your knee and rebuild damaged cartilage.

In one study, researchers measured knee joint space using X-rays.

After 12 weeks, there was no significant difference in knee joint space between eggshell membrane and placebo.

Likewise, several other markers associated with inflammation and cartilage breakdown did not improve either.

Only one cartilage marker, COMP, changed significantly. Other markers, including CTX-II and MMP-2, did not significantly improve.

The 2026 study also measured cartilage-related biomarkers. The changes generally moved in a favorable direction, but the researchers described those findings as exploratory rather than proof that cartilage had been restored.

Bottom line on cartilage

There is evidence the eggshell membrane may reduce arthritis symptoms. But so far there is not good evidence that it regrows cartilage or reverses osteoarthritis.

What Is the Best Eggshell Membrane Dose for Arthritis?

Most human studies have used between 300 to 600 mg per day.

Several studies have used 500 mg.

That doesn't mean 500 mg has been proven to work best for everybody.

One study found 500 mg reduced pain more than 300 mg, but increasing the amount didn't consistently produce better results.

So I would say 500 mg as the most commonly researched amount, not the scientifically established optimal dose.

What's the Best Brand of Eggshell Membrane for Arthritis?

No brand of eggshell membrane has been proven to work better than all the others.

If I were choosing one, however, I would pay attention to which branded eggshell membrane ingredient is listed on the label and whether the amount matches what has been used in human studies.

NEM Has the Most Research

Of the different types I've looked at, NEM® has the most human research for knee osteoarthritis. (affiliate link)

NEM has been tested in several clinical trials, most often at 500 mg per day. Studies have reported improvements in knee pain, stiffness, and physical function, although not every outcome in every study improved.

So, if someone asked me which type of eggshell membrane had the most research behind it, NEM would be the brand I'd look at first.

What About Other Eggshell Membrane Brands?

NEM isn't the only type that has been studied.

BiovaFlex is a water-soluble eggshell membrane ingredient, while Eggbrane uses a relatively mild processing method. Ovomet-AS was the specific eggshell membrane supplied by Eggnovo for the positive 2026 study.

Currently, we don't have good head-to-head studies showing that NEM, BiovaFlex, Eggbrane, Ovomet, or another commercial ingredient is definitively better than the others.

My Thoughts on choosing an eggshell membrane supplement

If you're buying eggshell membrane specifically because of the osteoarthritis research, I would look for a supplement that clearly identifies the branded ingredient on the label rather than one that simply says “eggshell membrane.”

And remember: the evidence suggests eggshell membrane may help reduce symptoms. It has not been shown to rebuild an arthritic knee.

Eggshell Membrane vs. Egg White Powder

Eggshell membrane and egg white powder are not the same thing, even though both come from eggs.

Eggshell membrane is the thin material attached to the inside of the eggshell.

Egg white powder, on the other hand, is basically dried egg whites. It is primarily used as a protein supplement and does not have the same composition as eggshell membrane.

So, egg white powder should not be considered a substitute for an eggshell membrane supplement.

Can You Get Eggshell Membrane From Eating Eggs?

Eggshell membrane is the thin layer just inside the shell. When you peel a hard-boiled egg, much of that membrane usually comes off with the shell, although some may remain attached to the egg white. But eating hard-boiled eggs would not provide a dose comparable to that used in clinical trials.

So, eating hard-boiled eggs should not be considered a substitute for an eggshell membrane supplement if your goal is to reproduce the amounts used in research.

Eggshell Membrane vs. Glucosamine

Eggshell membrane and glucosamine are both advertised for joint pain, but they are very different supplements.

Glucosamine is a compound that is naturally involved in cartilage. Eggshell membrane is a mixture of proteins and other substances, including collagen, elastin, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and a small amount of glucosamine. In one eggshell membrane study, glucosamine made up less than 2% of the ingredients.

Which Works Better for Arthritis?

We don't know.

I could not find a clinical trial that directly compared eggshell membrane with glucosamine in people with knee osteoarthritis. Without a head-to-head study, claims that eggshell membrane works better or faster than glucosamine are speculation.

Glucosamine has actually been studied much more extensively than eggshell membrane. The problem is that the results have been inconsistent. For example, one problem with the glucosamine research is that researchers have not always studied the same form. Some studies use glucosamine sulfate, while others use glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl), and the results from one form may not apply to the other.

Personally, I think the evidence is actually better for glucosamine sulfate (without chondroitin sulfate).

Eggshell Membrane Side Effects

So far, eggshell membrane appears to be reasonably well tolerated in human studies.

Consider avoiding eggshell membrane supplements if you are allergic to eggs.

Most studies specifically excluded people with egg allergies for this reason.

As for pregnancy and nursing, there's just not a lot of good safety data yet, so consult your physician.

Eggshell Membrane for Arthritis Pain: My Thoughts

Eggshell membrane benefits from multiple human clinical trials

Taken together, I think the evidence suggests a real but modest benefit for knee osteoarthritis symptoms, particularly pain and physical function.

I do think the benefits would vary by how severe your arthritis pain and symptoms are.

For now, I am less convinced by claims that it works dramatically within a few days.

And I don't see good evidence that eggshell membrane repairs or regenerates cartilage.

If someone with knee osteoarthritis wanted to try an eggshell membrane supplement, I wouldn't consider that unreasonable based on the available research. Most studies have used around 500 mg per day, and benefits, when they occurred, were generally evaluated over several weeks.

Did eggshell membrane work for you? Share your experiences below.

Further reading

Glucosamine: 4 Facts You Don't Know

Collagen Type I, II and III: What's Best for Skin and Joints

Omega XL Review: Does It Really Work?

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