Influence of Specific Collagen Peptides on Training-Induced Metabolic and Biomechanical Adaptations of Skeletal Muscle
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: ColCT, ColET, PlaCT, PlaET.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Collagen Supplementation. Basic parameters: 18 years — 40 years · Male.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Austria
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This study investigates whether taking daily collagen peptides, combined with long-term endurance or concurrent training can enhance running economy through muscle and/or tendon adaptations.
Detailed description
An adequate and high-quality intake of proteins and amino acids is crucial for synthesizing the body's own connective tissue-like structures, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Various metabolic and hormonal processes are regulated or influenced by proteins. It is undisputed that measurable improvements are only possible through the combination of training and protein intake. Simply increasing protein intake without physical activity cannot be expected to result in structural or metabolic adaptations.
In recent years, interest in regular collagen intake in sports nutrition, particularly in connection with moderate to intense physical activity, has increased. Since collagen and its peptides are primarily found in force-transmitting structures such as tendons, studies have been conducted to examine how tendons adapt to collagen peptide supplementation. Studies by Jerger et al. (2022 \& 2023) have shown that both the patellar and Achilles tendons adapt to collagen supplementation, as evidenced by an increased cross-sectional area compared to a non-caloric placebo. This increase allows tendons to withstand greater forces, making them more resilient and thus playing an important role in injury prevention. These results were achieved with a dose of 5g of collagen combined with three months of strength training.
Additionally, multi-month collagen peptide supplementation combined with concurrent training (strength and endurance training in one session) led to improved endurance performance. Both running distance and speed at the aerobic and anaerobic thresholds significantly increased compared to a placebo group with a daily intake of 15g of collagen over three months (Jerger et al. 2023, Jendricke et al. 2020).
Based on these results, the question arises as to whether regularly supplemented collagen peptides, combined with pure endurance training, lead to similar metabolic and/or tendon-specific adaptations. Therefore, the aim of this proposed study is to investigate both metabolic and specific (morphological, mechanical, and material) properties of the Achilles and patellar tendons to determine the mechanism through which the so-called "running economy" develops in connection with collagen peptides. The results will be compared to those of concurrent training, which has already shown metabolic adaptations as described above.
Interventions
- Dietary supplement ColCT
Dietary Supplement: Collagen Participants ingest 15 grams of specific collagen peptides daily - Dietary supplement ColET
Dietary Supplement: Collagen Participants ingest 15 grams of specific collagen peptides daily - Dietary supplement PlaCT
Dietary Supplement: Placebo. Participants ingest 15 grams of placebo daily - Dietary supplement PlaET
Dietary Supplement: Placebo. Participants ingest 15 grams of placebo daily
Primary outcome measures
- One-hour time trial performance [Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks]
- Achilles tendon cross sectional-area [Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks]
- Achilles and Patellar tendon Stiffness [Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks]
- VO2max [Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Body composition [Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks]
- Achilles tendon stress, strain, Young's modulus [Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks]
- Patellar tendon strain [Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks]
- RER, VT1, VT2, LTP1, LTP2, HFrel., FATox. [Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks]
- Achilles tendon echointensity [Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Male gender Age 18-40 years No subjective symptoms during physical exertion BMI of 18.5 to 26 Stable weight and dietary habits No extensive strength/endurance training (less than 3 hours per week) No contraindications to physical exertion according to ACSM guidelines No contraindications to supplemental nutrition or ergogenic supplements
Exclusion criteria
Contraindications to physical activity (e.g., chronic heart disease, arrhythmia, heart valve disease, arthritis, etc.; general exclusion criteria according to ACSM 2009; intolerance/aversion to animal protein) Arterial hypertension (systolic BP > 200 mmHg and/or diastolic BP > 105 mmHg) at rest Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) Liver and/or kidney disease that excludes a high protein load
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
Study locations
Austria · 1 center
- Centre for Sport Science and University Sports, Department of Sport and Human Movement Sci — Vienna
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06689761 · 01177