Table 2.
Studies assessing the effects of collagen supplementation on body composition and muscle strength
| Study | QACIS score | Participants | Type and dosage | Exercise modality | Outcome measures | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zdzieblik et al. (2015) | 92.86% | 53 elderly sarcopenic men (72 ± 5 years) | 15 g/day collagen peptides | 12-week guided RT programme on fitness devices |
DEXA scan One leg stabilisation test for SMC IQS |
↑ in FFM, BM, SMC and IQS with COL and RT vs PLA (p < 0.05) FFM (+ 4.2 ± 2.3 kg COL vs +2.9 ± 1.8 kg PLA), IQS (+16.5 ± 13 Nm COL vs +7.3 ± 13 Nm PLA) ↓ in FM in COL (p < 0.05) FM (− 5.4 ± 3 kg COL vs – 3.5 ± 2 kg PLA) |
| Oertzen-Hagemann et al. (2019) | 78.57% | 25 recreationally active men (24 ± 3 years) | 15 g/day of collagen peptides | 3 times per week 12-week resistance training intervention with barbells |
BIA Leg extension maximum involuntarily contraction Muscle biopsies for muscle proteome analysis |
↑ in BM (p = 0.035), FFM (p = 0.014) and rowing (p = 0.025) in COL vs PLA ↑ in all parameters (BM, FM, FFM, squat, deadlift, bench-press, rowing and isometric strength) from baseline to the culmination (p ≤ 0.05), slightly more pronounced effects in COL 221 ↑ abundant proteins in COL vs 44 in PLA |
| Kirmse et al. (2019) | 71.43% | 57 young men (24 ± 3 years) | 15 g/day of collagen peptides | 3 times per week of resistance exercise training for 12 weeks |
Strength testing via leg extension maximum voluntary contraction BIA for body composition testing Muscle biopsies for muscle fibre distribution and thickness analysis |
↑ in FFM with COL (p < 0.05) ↔ in BFM with COL, but ↑ with PLA ((8.8 ± 3.2 vs 9.5 ± 3.0 kg, pre vs post) ↑ in isometric strength (p = 0.477), one-repetition maximum strength (p < 0.001) and type II muscle fibres (p < 0.001) in whole cohort from pre to post, but slightly more pronounced in COL |
| Jendricke et al. (2019) | 85.71% | 77 pre-menopausal women (38 ± 9 years COL, 42 ± 7 years PLA) | 15 g/day of collagen peptides | 3 times per week of resistance exercise training for 12 weeks |
Body composition were determined by BIA Muscular strength by isometric strength testing |
↑ in FFM with COL (p < 0.05) ↓ in BFM with COL (p < 0.05) ↑ in hand-grip (p < 0.05) and leg (p < 0.01) strength, ↔ in PLA |
| Average QACIS score | 82% |
RT Resistance training, DEXA Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, COL Collagen peptide supplementation, PLA Placebo, FFM Fat free mass, BM Bone mass, SMC Sensory motor control, IQS Isokinetic quadricep strength, FM Fat mass, BFM Body fat mass, BIA Bioelectrical impedance analysis, ↑ increased, ↓ decreased, ↔ unchanged