Collagen Hydrolysate Supplementation Improve Symptoms In Patients With Severe Osteoarthritis

Abstract

PURPOSE Knee pain is a common complaint associated with aging and for those over 40 years of age, this is often the first sign of osteoarthritis (OA). New nutritional supplements have peaked interest over the last 20 years to both relieve symptoms and potentially create structural changes to slow the process of osteoarthritis. Insoluble collagen makes up a majority of articular cartilage. It has been theorized that new treatments for OA should focus on improving the health of this existing joint collagen. For this reason, collagen hydrolysate, a natural component of gelatine, has been suggested as a mode of treatment and thus far has shown minimal side effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a collagen hydrosylatebased nutritional supplement on muscle function in individuals with OA of the knee. METHODS One-hundred two individual with severe symptoms of OA of the knee based on criteria from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (CH group; n=50) consisting of collagen hydrolysate (10 grams), calcium (300 milligrams), and vitamin C (60 milligrams) or a placebo group (n=52). Subjects for this study were sequestered from a larger study involving patients with mild to severe cases of osteoarthritis, to examine the effects of the intervention (CH) in the most severe cases confirmed either by medical record or X-ray. Subjects were assessed at baseline and after 14 weeks using the Biodex Multi-Joint System B2000 (isometric and isokinetic) to assess joint strength and work performance. RESULTS Significant improvements occurred in the CH group for 8 isokinetic leg strength measures and 2 isometric leg strength measures from baseline to week 14 (p<0.05) in this group of subjects with most significant symptoms or x-ray evidence of OA. CONCLUSIONS These data show that CH supplementation can be a useful tool for those with more severe cases of OA by improving functional strength and range of motion. Thus, daily activities, which are most challenging for patients with more severe symptoms of OA, may become more manageable following supplementation with CH. Work Supported by: Gelita Health Initiative