Objective To compare the ameliorating effect of collagen peptide chelated calcium (CPCC) and estrogen on the bone quality in ovariectomized rats in order to serve the development of safe drugs for prevention of osteoporosis (OP). Methods Bilateral ovariectomized rats were divided into ovariectomized group (OVX), sham group, 17β-estradiol injection group (OVX+E₂) and CPCC gavage group (OVX+CCCP). Bone and serum indices of these groups were assessed and compared at 9 weeks after treatment. Results Bone density of the OVX group was significantly lower than the sham group (P<0.01), indicating that the rat OP model was successfully established. Like estrogen, CPCC inhibited the abnormal changes of all indices and maintain similar levels with those of the sham group (P>0.05), while the body weight gain of the E₂ group at weeks 8 and 9 was significantly lower than those of the sham group (P<0.01). As regarding the prevention of bone loss, the Mg and Ca levels of the E₂ group were significantly lower than those of the moderate and high dose CPCC groups. The Cu level was not significantly different compared with the sham group,while those in the moderate and low dose CPCC groups were significantly higher than the sham group. The Mn, Zn and hydroxyproline levels of the E₂ group were significantly lower than those of the sham group, while the CPCC group maintained levels similar to that of the sham group. In regarding to the inhibiting effect on the increased blood BGP and StrACP, the E₂ group was still maintained at levels similar to that of the OVX group, while those of the CPCC group were significantly lower than the OVX group. As regarding the decreased blood Ca, the E₂ group was not significantly different with that of the OVX group, while that of the CPCC group was significantly higher than the OVX group. Conclusions CPCC is more effective than estrogen in ameliorating the bone quality of ovariectomized rats.