Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial.

Denise Zdzieblik,Steffen Oesser,Albert Gollhofer,Manfred W Baumstark,Daniel König

doi:10.1017/s0007114515002810

Abstract

Protein supplementation in combination with resistance training may increase muscle mass and muscle strength in elderly subjects. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of post-exercise protein supplementation with collagen peptides v. placebo on muscle mass and muscle function following resistance training in elderly subjects with sarcopenia. A total of fifty-three male subjects (72·2 (sd 4·68) years) with sarcopenia (class I or II) completed this randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study. All the participants underwent a 12-week guided resistance training programme (three sessions per week) and were supplemented with either collagen peptides (treatment group (TG)) (15 g/d) or silica as placebo (placebo group (PG)). Fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM) and bone mass (BM) were measured before and after the intervention using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Isokinetic quadriceps strength (IQS) of the right leg was determined and sensory motor control (SMC) was investigated by a standardised one-leg stabilisation test. Following the training programme, all the subjects showed significantly higher (P<0·01) levels for FFM, BM, IQS and SMC with significantly lower (P<0·01) levels for FM. The effect was significantly more pronounced in subjects receiving collagen peptides: FFM (TG +4·2 (sd 2·31) kg/PG +2·9 (sd 1·84) kg; P<0·05); IQS (TG +16·5 (sd 12·9) Nm/PG +7·3 (sd 13·2) Nm; P<0·05); and FM (TG -5·4 (sd 3·17) kg/PG -3·5 (sd 2·16) kg; P<0·05). Our data demonstrate that compared with placebo, collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training further improved body composition by increasing FFM, muscle strength and the loss in FM.

Highlights

Ageing is associated with a decline in motor function, muscle mass and a decrease in muscular performance[1,2]
We investigated the effect of postexercise protein supplementation with collagen peptides on Abbreviations: FFM, fat-free mass; FM, fat mass; PG, placebo group; randomised controlled trials (RCT), randomised controlled trial; TG, treatment group. * Corresponding author: Dr D
Hydrolysed collagen is contained in sports drinks and bars aimed at improving regeneration and post-exercise muscle recovery, to our knowledge, no controlled study has far investigated the effect of collagen peptide supplementation on FFM, muscle strength and motor control

Summary

Introduction

Ageing is associated with a decline in motor function, muscle mass and a decrease in muscular performance[1,2]. In a most recent meta-analysis, Cermak et al[11] included twenty-two RCT that have investigated the effect of resistance exercise and protein supplementation on FFM and muscle strength in both young and older subjects Their analyses showed that protein supplementation increases FFM and strength to a significantly higher level than placebo and that this effect of dietary protein was evident in both younger and older subjects. In most of these RCT, the proteins administered were whey, milk, soya or casein; in some studies, a mixture of different essential amino acids was administered.

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