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Eggshell membrane is the thin, clear film lining the inside of a bird’s eggshell, sitting between the hard shell and the egg white. Peel a hard-boiled egg and it is the papery layer clinging to the shell. Processed into a powder, it supplies collagen peptides, elastin peptides, and hyaluronic acid.
It is a byproduct of egg processing, separated from shells that are already produced in large volume. The standardized forms sold as supplement ingredients have been studied in humans, which is uncommon for an ingredient of this kind.
Key Takeaways
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Eggshell membrane contains collagen peptides, elastin peptides, hyaluronic acid, and other glycosaminoglycans.
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Research has been conducted on specific standardized forms rather than on eggshell membrane in general, so the form named on the label matters.
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It contains egg. People with an egg allergy should avoid it.
What Is Eggshell Membrane?
The membrane is a fibrous meshwork. A review of the eggshell membrane as a biomaterial (Shi et al., 2021) describes three layers of interwoven protein fibers, cross-linked into a stable net between the mineralized shell and the egg white. Its biological function is structural. It is the scaffold the shell mineralizes onto and the barrier that keeps mineralization out of the egg white.
Collagen is a minority of the total protein. Most of the fiber mass is other proteins and glycoproteins held together by lysine-derived cross-links, which give the membrane its strength and its insolubility. The inner and outer membranes differ slightly in composition, with type I and V collagen concentrated in the inner layer.
Eggshell membrane is not ground eggshell. The shell is roughly 95 percent calcium carbonate and is sold separately as a calcium source. The membrane is the protein layer beneath it.
Processing is what makes the ingredient usable. The membrane is separated from the shell, dried, and milled into a fine powder. Some forms are further hydrolyzed or solubilized, which breaks the cross-linked fibers into smaller fragments the body can absorb. Left intact, the fibers are largely insoluble. Standardized and unstandardized forms are therefore not interchangeable.
What Are the Benefits of Eggshell Membrane?
Three applications have been studied, all related to the same structural composition.
Joint Comfort and Mobility
In two open-label studies, Ruff et al. (2009) found that adults taking a standardized eggshell membrane ingredient (NEM) daily reported reduced joint discomfort within seven days, which continued through 30 days.
Joint tissue is built from collagen and glycosaminoglycans and turns over continuously. Supplying those components may support joint comfort and mobility over time.
The evidence has limits. The earliest joint studies were open-label rather than placebo-controlled and were conducted by parties connected to the ingredient supplier.
Skin Structure and Elasticity
Skin depends on collagen and elastin for structure and on hyaluronic acid for hydration. Eggshell membrane contains all three.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Park et al. (2025) found that women taking a standardized eggshell membrane ingredient (Ovoderm) daily for twelve weeks showed improvements in skin elasticity, dermal density, and hydration compared with placebo, with elasticity and dermal density changes measurable at six weeks.
Research suggests eggshell membrane may support healthy collagen synthesis, skin structure, and skin elasticity. Vitamin C is a required cofactor for collagen biosynthesis, which is why structural ingredients and vitamin C are usually formulated together.
Connective Tissue Support
Tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue draw on the same structural inputs as skin and joints. Eggshell membrane may support healthy connective tissue by supplying the components that tissue is built from. Less research addresses this directly, and most of what is claimed extrapolates from the joint and skin studies.
How to Take Eggshell Membrane
Eggshell membrane is sold as a powder, a capsule, or a component of a liquid formula. It is rarely sold on its own and more often appears as one part of a broader structural or joint formula alongside collagen, hyaluronic acid, or vitamin C.
Timing is flexible. There is no requirement to take it with food or at a set hour. Consistency matters more, since the research protocols run for weeks rather than days. If you are already taking other supplements, timing and pairing are worth checking before you add another.
Check two things on the label. The first is whether the form is a standardized one with research behind it, since studies do not transfer across forms. The second is whether the product is third-party tested and made under current good manufacturing practice requirements. Follow the serving size on the label.
Standardized forms appear on labels under trade names rather than as generic eggshell membrane. Ovomet, Ovoderm, and NEM are the forms used in the published research. A label listing only eggshell membrane with no form named is not necessarily poor quality, but the studies described here do not apply to it.
Are There Side Effects?
Eggshell membrane is generally well tolerated at studied amounts.
The exception is the allergen. Eggshell membrane contains egg. People with an egg allergy should avoid it. Check the allergen statement on any product containing it, since the membrane appears in formulas where an egg-derived ingredient is not obvious.
Consult your healthcare provider before starting if you take medication or manage a health condition.
Eggshell Membrane in Rho Liposomal Multi Peptide Daily
In Rho Liposomal Multi Peptide Daily, eggshell membrane (Ovomet/Ovoderm) is the structural layer of the formula. It supplies the collagen peptides, elastin peptides, and hyaluronic acid that support skin structure and elasticity, joint comfort and mobility, and connective tissue.
It is paired with vitamin C, which helps support collagen synthesis in the body. The rest of the formula adds protective, recovery, and cellular energy support around that structural base.
This product contains egg, from the eggshell membrane. Follow the serving size on the label.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Final Thoughts
Eggshell membrane is a well-characterized set of structural compounds in a combination that is difficult to source from a single ingredient.
If you are evaluating it on a label, check which form is named and read the allergen statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eggshell membrane the same as eggshell calcium?
No. Eggshell calcium comes from the hard outer shell, which is mostly calcium carbonate, and is used as a mineral supplement. Eggshell membrane is the protein layer beneath the shell and supplies collagen peptides, elastin peptides, and hyaluronic acid. They come from different parts of the egg and are used for different purposes.
Can vegetarians take eggshell membrane?
Vegetarians who eat eggs generally can. The membrane is a byproduct of egg processing and does not require an animal to be slaughtered. Strict vegans should avoid it, because it is animal-derived.
Is eggshell membrane better than collagen?
They are different ingredients. A collagen supplement provides a concentrated dose of collagen peptides for overall structural integrity. It is the same protein found in connective tissue, skeletal muscle and the dermis of your skin. Eggshell membrane provides collagen along with elastin, hyaluronic acid, and other glycosaminoglycans, so it is broader in composition but less concentrated in any single component.
Can you take eggshell membrane with collagen?
Yes, and they pair well. Both supply components used in the same tissues, and collagen-derived peptides have absorption research behind them independently. Taking both may support tissue integrity and skin structure. Vitamin C taken alongside either one supports the collagen synthesis both depend on.
References
Shi, Y., Zhou, K., Li, D., Guyonnet, V., Hincke, M. T., & Mine, Y. (2021). Avian eggshell membrane as a novel biomaterial: A review. Foods, 10(9), 2178. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10092178
Du, J., Hincke, M. T., Rose-Martel, M., Hennequet-Antier, C., Brionne, A., Cogburn, L. A., Nys, Y., & Gautron, J. (2015). Identifying specific proteins involved in eggshell membrane formation using gene expression analysis and bioinformatics. BMC Genomics, 16, 792. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-015-2013-3
Ruff, K. J., DeVore, D. P., Leu, M. D., & Robinson, M. A. (2009). Eggshell membrane: A possible new natural therapeutic for joint and connective tissue disorders. Results from two open-label human clinical studies. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 4, 235–240. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s5797
Park, M., Won, K., Lee, J. H., Park, Y., Oh, M., Chang, J., Lee, J., & Lee, M. (2025). Effects of oral supplementation with eggshell membrane (Ovoderm®-AS) on skin health: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Functional Foods, 127, 106713. (Copy the DOI from the ScienceDirect page.)
Talbott, S. M., Talbott, J. A., George, A., & Pugh, M. (2013). Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 10(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-10-28
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2021, March 26). Vitamin C: Fact sheet for health professionals. National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/
Virgilio, N., Schön, C., Mödinger, Y., van der Steen, B., Vleminckx, S., van Holthoon, F. L., Kleinnijenhuis, A. J., Silva, C. I. F., & Prawitt, J. (2024). Absorption of bioactive peptides following collagen hydrolysate intake: A randomized, double-blind crossover study in healthy individuals. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1416643. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1416643
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Always consult your healthcare provider if you are taking medications or have a medical condition.
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