The Muscle Mag
The study conducted a randomised controlled trial to investigate the impact of specific collagen peptide (SCP) supplementation on recovery markers in 55 predominantly sedentary male participants following eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage over a span of three months.
Results indicated a significantly faster recovery in muscle strength (maximum voluntary contraction – MVC), rate of force development (RFD), and countermovement jump height (CMJ) in the SCP group.
The authors from Austria concluded that the combination of SCP and concurrent training (CT) over 12 weeks notably improved markers related to recovery, particularly in maximal, explosive, and reactive strength.
They suggested that prolonged intake of collagen peptides may assist in muscular adaptations by aiding in the remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM).
Significance
Collagen, making up 30% of total protein mass in the human body, plays a vital role in connective tissues found in cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
Unlike the amino acid composition of myofibrillar protein, collagen peptides (CP) primarily consist of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, contributing to tissue stability and force transmission.
There is a continuous process of collagen degradation and synthesis with a turnover rate of about 0.5–2% per day, influenced by signals from the ECM.
Collagen also plays a crucial role in remodelling intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT), which is essential for ECM plasticity.
IMCT, where collagen types I and III account for approximately 75%, is crucial for proper mechanotransduction and optimal movement performance.
Prior research has shown that muscles, tendons, and IMCT of the lower limbs exhibit higher gene expression of certain collagenous tissues and mediators after resistance and endurance training, indicating a potential role in regulating muscle adaptation, repair, and recovery.
Furthermore, supplementation with collagen peptide (CP) has been found to stimulate collagen synthesis, unlike other proteins that do not significantly increase synthesis rates.
Hence, the authors aimed to investigate the superiority of daily CP supplementation over a 3-month period in promoting recovery through performance tests and perceived muscle soreness as indicators of potential adaptations.
Study
A total of 55 mostly sedentary male participants were instructed to consume either 15g of Gelita’s SCP or a placebo provided by Gelita and engage in concurrent training (CT) for 12 weeks.
Eccentric muscle damage was induced by 150 drop jumps before and after the intervention.
Measurements of muscle strength, rate of force development, countermovement jump height, and muscle soreness were taken at various time points along with body composition analysis.
The results favored the SCP group in terms of faster recovery in muscle strength, rate of force development, peak RFD, and CMJ height.
No significant effects were observed in muscle soreness and body composition.
The authors concluded that subjects supplementing with SCP displayed a higher muscular regenerative capacity compared to the placebo group.
They noted improvements in biomechanical parameters and suggested potential adaptations in musculotendinous structures played a key role in the observed results.
While future studies should explore specific effects of SCP on neural activity patterns and molecular adaptations, the study provides valuable insights into enhancing force transmission and understanding underlying mechanisms.
Journal: Frontiers in Nutrition
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1266056/full
“Influence of specific collagen peptides and 12-week concurrent training on recovery-related biomechanical characteristics following exercise-induced muscle damage—A randomized controlled trial”
Authors: Kevin Bischof, Savvas Stafilidis, Larissa Bundschuh, Steffen Oesser, Arnold Baca, and Daniel König.
