The effects of collagen peptides on muscle damage, inflammation and bone turnover following exercise: a randomized, controlled trial

This study examined whether consuming collagen peptides (CP) before and after strenuous exercise alters markers of muscle damage, inflammation and bone turnover. Using a double-blind, independent group's design, 24 recreationally active males consumed either 20gday(-1) of CP or a placebo control (CON) for 7days before and 2days after performing 150 drop jumps. Maximal isometric voluntary contractions, countermovement jumps (CMJ), muscle soreness (200mm visual analogue scale), pressure pain threshold, Brief Assessment of Mood Adapted (BAM+) and a range of blood markers associated with muscle damage, inflammation and bone turnover C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (-CTX) and N-terminal propeptides of type 1 pro-collagen (P1NP) were measured before supplementation (baseline; BL), pre, post, 1.5, 24 and 48h post-exercise. Muscle soreness was not significantly different in CP and CON (P=0.071) but a large effect size was evident at 48h post-exercise, indicative of lower soreness in the CP group (90.42 +/- 45.33mm vs. CON 125.67 +/- 36.50mm; ES=2.64). CMJ height recovered quicker with CP than CON at 48h (P=0.050; CP 89.96 +/- 12.85 vs. CON 78.67 +/- 14.41% of baseline values; ES=0.55). There were no statistically significant effects for the other dependent variables (P>0.05). -CTX and P1NP were unaffected by CP supplementation (P>0.05). In conclusion, CP had moderate benefits for the recovery of CMJ and muscle soreness but had no influence on inflammation and bone collagen synthesis.