Abstract
It has been shown that specific collagen peptides combined with resistance training (RT) improves body composition and muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men. The main purpose of this RCT study was to investigate the efficacy of the identical specific collagen peptides combined with RT on body composition and muscle strength in middle-aged, untrained men. Furthermore, in the exploratory part of the study, these results were compared with another group that had received whey protein in addition to the RT. Ninety-seven men completed this study and participated in a 12-week RT program. They ingested 15 g of specific collagen peptides (n = 30; CP-G), placebo (n = 31; P-G), or whey protein (n = 36; WP-G) daily. Changes in fat free mass and fat mass were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and isometric leg strength was measured. All participants had significantly (p < 0.01) improved levels in fat free mass (ΔCP-G = 3.42 ± 2.54 kg; ΔP-G = 1.83 ± 2.09 kg; ΔWP-G = 2.27 ± 2.56 kg), fat mass (Δ CP-G = −5.28 ± 3.19 kg; ΔP-G = −3.39 ± 3.13 kg; ΔWP-G = −4.08 ± 2.80 kg) and leg strength (ΔCP-G = 163 ± 189 N; ΔP-G = 100 ± 154 N; ΔWP-G = 120 ± 233 N). The main analysis revealed a statistically significantly higher increase in fat free mass (p = 0.010) and decrease in fat mass (p = 0.023) in the CP-G compared with the P-G. The exploratory analysis showed no statistically significant differences between WP-G and CP-G or P-G, regarding changes of fat free mass and fat mass. In conclusion, specific collagen peptide supplementation combined with RT was associated with a significantly greater increase in fat free mass and a decrease in fat mass compared with placebo. RT combined with whey protein also had a positive impact on body composition, but the respective effects were more pronounced following the specific collagen peptide administration.
Highlights
Specific collagen peptide supplementation combined with resistance training (RT) was associated with a significantly greater increase in fat free mass and a decrease in fat mass compared with placebo
None of the dropouts were related to side-effects or adverse events caused by the intake of collagen peptides, placebo or whey protein
This study examined in the main analysis whether the supplementation of specific bioactive collagen peptides in combination with RT three times a week for 60 min induced a statistically significantly higher increase in fat free mass and a greater reduction in fat mass than RT alone
Summary
Characteristics of the aging process include a decrease in muscle mass, strength and functionality. Muscle strength and function are assumed to decrease from an average age of about 40 [1,2]. This, together with an increase in fat mass, is often accompanied by orthopedic complaints and an impairment of cardiometabolic risk factors such as increased weight, waist circumference and triglyceride levels, reduced HDLcholesterol or impaired glucose tolerance [3]. The combination of reduced muscle mass with increased fat mass is defined as sarcopenic obesity, and is associated with a higher mortality risk than sarcopenia or adiposity alone [4].
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