Whey Protein Supplementation Is Superior to Leucine-Matched Collagen Peptides to Increase Muscle Thickness During a 10-Week Resistance Training Program in Untrained Young Adults

Impact of Collagen Peptide Supplementation in Combination with Long-Term Physical Training on Strength, Musculotendinous Remodeling, Functional Recovery, and Body Composition in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Over the past decade, collagen peptide (CP) supplements have received considerable attention in sports nutrition research. These supplements have shown promising results in improving personal health, enhancing athletic performance, and preventing injuries in some but not all studies.

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has been conducted to investigate the effects of long-term daily collagen peptide (CP) supplementation on strength, musculotendinous adaptation, functional recovery, and body composition in healthy adults, both with and without concurrent exercise interventions over several weeks.

METHODS

The PRISMA with PERSiST guidelines were followed for this systematic literature review, which was conducted in December 2023 using PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases. Eligible studies included healthy, normal to overweight adults over 17 years of age who engaged in exercise and daily collagen peptide (CP) supplementation for a minimum of 8 weeks (except one 3-week trial only included for maximal strength). Studies examining recovery-related outcomes were also eligible if they included a 1-week supplementation period without exercise. Methodological study quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. A random-effects model with standardized mean differences (SMD) of change scores was chosen to calculate overall effect sizes.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies comprising 768 participants were included in both the systematic review and meta-analysis. Results indicate statistically significant effects in favor of long-term CP intake regarding fat-free mass (FFM) (SMD 0.48, p < 0.01), tendon morphology (SMD 0.67, p < 0.01), muscle architecture (SMD 0.39, p < 0.01), maximal strength (SMD 0.19, p < 0.01), and 48 h recovery in reactive strength following exercise-induced muscle damage (SMD 0.43, p = 0.045). The GRADE approach revealed a moderate certainty of evidence for body composition, a very low certainty for tendon morphology and mechanical properties, and a low certainty for the remaining.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis represents the first comprehensive investigation into the effects of long-term CP supplementation combined with regular physical training on various aspects of musculoskeletal health in adults. The findings indicate significant, though of low to moderate certainty, evidence of improvements in fat-free mass (FFM), tendon morphology, muscle mass, maximal strength, and recovery in reactive strength following exercise-induced muscle damage. However, further research is required to fully understand the mechanisms underlying these effects, particularly regarding tendon mechanical properties and short-term adaptations to collagen peptide (CP) intake without exercise, as observed in recovery outcomes. Overall, CP supplementation appears promising as a beneficial adjunct to physical training for enhancing musculoskeletal performance in adults. Open Science Framework (Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/WCF4Y ).

Partly Substituting Whey for Collagen Peptide Supplementation Improves Neither Indices of Muscle Damage Nor Recovery of Functional Capacity During Eccentric Exercise Training in Fit Males

Previous studies showed that collagen peptide supplementation along with resistance exercise enhance muscular recovery and function. Yet, the efficacy of collagen peptide supplementation in addition to standard nutritional practices in athletes remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of the study was to compare the effects of combined collagen peptide (20 g) and whey protein (25 g) supplementation with a similar daily protein dose (45 g) of whey protein alone on indices of muscle damage and recovery of muscular performance during eccentric exercise training. Young fit males participated in a 3-week training period involving unilateral eccentric exercises for the knee extensors. According to a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group design, before and after training, they received either whey protein (n = 11) or whey protein + collagen peptides (n = 11). Forty-eight hours after the first training session, maximal voluntary isometric and dynamic contraction of the knee extensors were transiently impaired by ∼10% (Ptime < .001) in whey protein and whey protein + collagen peptides, while creatine kinase levels were doubled in both groups (Ptime < .01). Furthermore, the training intervention improved countermovement jump performance and maximal voluntary dynamic contraction by respectively 8% and 10% (Ptime < .01) and increased serum procollagen type 1N-terminal peptide concentration by 10% (Ptime < .01). However, no differences were found for any of the outcomes between whey and whey protein + collagen peptides. In conclusion, substituting a portion of whey protein for collagen peptide, within a similar total protein dose, improved neither indices of eccentric muscle damage nor functional outcomes during eccentric training.

The effect of fish oil supplementation on resistance training-induced adaptations

BACKGROUND

Resistance exercise training (RET) is a common and well-established method to induce hypertrophy and improvement in strength. Interestingly, fish oil supplementation (FOS) may augment RET-induced adaptations. However, few studies have been conducted on young, healthy adults.

METHODS

A randomized, placebo-controlled design was used to determine the effect of FOS, a concentrated source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), compared to placebo (PL) on RET-induced adaptations following a 10-week RET program (3 days·week^-1). Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (LBM, fat mass [FM], percent body fat [%BF]) and strength was measured by 1-repetition maximum barbell back squat (1RM_SQT) and bench press (1RM_BP) at PRE (week 0) and POST (10 weeks). Supplement compliance was assessed via self-report and bottle collection every two weeks and via fatty acid dried blood spot collection at PRE and POST. An a priori α-level of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance and Cohen's d was used to quantify effect sizes (ES).

RESULTS

Twenty-one of 28 male and female participants (FOS, n = 10 [4 withdrawals]; PL, n = 11 [3 withdrawals]) completed the 10-week progressive RET program and PRE/POST measurements. After 10-weeks, blood EPA+DHA substantially increased in the FOS group (+109.7%, p< .001) and did not change in the PL group (+1.3%, p = .938). Similar between-group changes in LBM (FOS: +3.4%, PL: +2.4%, p = .457), FM (FOS: -5.2%, PL: 0.0%, p = .092), and %BF (FOS: -5.9%, PL: -2.5%, p = .136) were observed, although, the between-group ES was considered large for FM (d = 0.84). Absolute and relative (kg·kg [body mass]^-1) 1RM_BP was significantly higher in the FOS group compared to PL (FOS: +17.7% vs. PL: +9.7%, p = .047; FOS: +17.6% vs. PL: +7.3%, p = .011; respectively), whereas absolute 1RM_SQT was similar between conditions (FOS: +28.8% vs. PL: +20.5%, p = .191). Relative 1RM_SQT was higher in the FOS group (FOS: +29.3% vs. PL: +17.9%, p = .045).

CONCLUSIONS

When combined with RET, FOS improves absolute and relative 1RM upper-body and relative 1RM lower-body strength to a greater extent than that observed in the PL group of young, recreationally trained adults.

Influence of specific collagen peptides and 12-week concurrent training on recovery-related biomechanical characteristics following exercise-induced muscle damage-A randomized controlled trial

Introduction

It has been shown that short-term ingestion of collagen peptides improves markers related to muscular recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether and to what extent a longer-term specific collagen peptide (SCP) supplementation combined with a training intervention influences recovery markers following eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.

Methods

Fifty-five predominantly sedentary male participants were assigned to consume either 15 g SCP or placebo (PLA) and engage in a concurrent training (CT) intervention (30 min each of resistance and endurance training, 3x/week) for 12 weeks. Before (T1) and after the intervention (T2), eccentric muscle damage was induced by 150 drop jumps. Measurements of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), rate of force development (RFD), peak RFD, countermovement jump height (CMJ), and muscle soreness (MS) were determined pre-exercise, immediately after exercise, and 24 and 48 h post-exercise. In addition, body composition, including fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), body cell mass (BCM) and extracellular mass (ECM) were determined at rest both before and after the 12-week intervention period.

Results

Three-way mixed ANOVA showed significant interaction effects in favor of the SCP group. MVC (p = 0.02, ηp2 = 0.11), RFD (p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.18), peak RFD (p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.15), and CMJ height (p = 0.046, ηp2 = 0.06) recovered significantly faster in the SCP group. No effects were found for muscle soreness (p = 0.66) and body composition (FM: p = 0.41, FFM: p = 0.56, BCM: p = 0.79, ECM: p = 0.58).

Conclusion

In summary, the results show that combining specific collagen peptide supplementation (SCP) and concurrent training (CT) over a 12-week period significantly improved markers reflecting recovery, specifically in maximal, explosive, and reactive strength. It is hypothesized that prolonged intake of collagen peptides may support muscular adaptations by facilitating remodeling of the extracellular matrix. This, in turn, could enhance the generation of explosive force.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier ID: NCT05220371.

Collagen peptide supplementation for pain and function: is it effective?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Connective tissue injuries are prevalent in active and aging populations, leading to chronic pain and decreased function. Turnover of this tissue is not well understood, especially as it relates to aging and injury. Supplementation of collagen peptides has been shown to improve connective tissue recovery and pain through increased collagen production.

RECENT FINDINGS

Collagen peptide supplementation improves pain and function, and upregulates metabolic pathways associated with muscle and tendon growth. Literature from the past 12-18 months supports that these pathways are also involved with increased synthesis and degradation of collagen and other elements of the extracellular matrix. Improvements in body composition and strength have been noted with collagen peptide supplementation when paired with resistance training. Collagen peptide supplements are hydrolyzed into small peptides, termed bioactive peptides, and individual amino acids. These bioactive peptides are associated with the benefits observed with collagen peptide supplementation and may play a critical role in the collagen turnover.

SUMMARY

Collagen peptide supplementation has been shown to promote recovery, decrease pain, and improve strength and body composition when paired with resistance training. These benefits may be attributed to bioactive peptides in collagen peptide supplements. Additional research is warranted to examine the specific effects of these bioactive peptides.

Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Following High-Load Resistance Exercise Upregulates Gene Expression in Pathways Involved in Skeletal Muscle Signal Transduction

Previous evidence suggests that resistance training in combination with specific collagen peptides (CP) improves adaptive responses of the muscular apparatus. Although beneficial effects have been repeatedly demonstrated, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Therefore, the primary objective of the present randomized trial was to elucidate differences in gene expression pathways related to skeletal muscle signal transduction following acute high-load resistance exercise with and without CP intake. Recreationally active male participants were equally randomized to high-load leg extension exercise in combination with 15 g CP or placebo (PLA) supplementation. Muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis muscle were obtained at baseline as well as 1, 4 and 24 h post exercise to investigate gene expression using next generation sequencing analysis. Several important anabolic pathways including PI3K-Akt and MAPK pathways were significantly upregulated at 1 and 4 h post-exercise. Significant between-group differences for both pathways were identified at the 4 h time point demonstrating a more pronounced effect after CP intake. Gene expression related to the mTOR pathway demonstrated a higher visual increase in the CP group compared to PLA by trend, but failed to achieve statistically significant group differences. The current findings revealed a significantly higher upregulation of key anabolic pathways (PI3K-Akt, MAPK) in human skeletal muscle 4 h following an acute resistance training combined with intake of 15 g of specific collagen peptides compared to placebo. Further investigations should examine potential relationships between upregulated gene expression and changes in myofibrillar protein synthesis as well as potential long-term effects on anabolic pathways on the protein level.