Loading... Please wait...

Blog - collagen benefits

Entire Body Collagen Adaptogen Research with the research-proven collagen peptide blends Verisol®, Fortigel® and Fortibone.

Posted by

Research proven collagen peptides for bone, joints and skin

By Cristiana Paul, MS & Amy Berger, MS, CNS

entire body collagen for whole body

Compared to other proteins, collagen has a unique amino acid composition and a distinct role in human anatomy. Collagen proteins are rich in the modified amino acid hydroxyproline (approx. 12%), and they have an unusually high content of glycine and proline (approx. 22% and 13%, respectively). While other dietary proteins can provide these, collagen is a more concentrated source, and as such, may be a more effective choice when the clinical goal is related to collagen as a structural protein, such as in supporting the strength of bone, tendons and cartilage, as well as the health and appearance of skin. Collagen accounts for as much as 30% of the body’s total protein, especially connective tissue. The amino acid and peptide compositions of dietary collagens are very similar to those in human collagens, making dietary collagen peptides ideal for supporting body collagen turnover and renewal. Many individuals—the elderly in particular—do not consume adequate protein. Even among those with a higher protein intake, unless nose-to-tail eating is emphasized, the richest sources of collagen—animal skins, bone broth, and tendons— are not typically part of the modern Western diet. Since collagen powder can be incorporated into shakes, smoothies, and other foods and beverages, it is a convenient way to ensure adequate intake of these unique amino acids, and to titrate to higher doses for those who may need greater amounts, such as athletes, aging individuals, those recovering from injury, and menopausal women not on HRT.

Entire Body Collagen helps support: 

• Bone density; bone mass and quality; reduced risk of fracture

• Improved skin elasticity, thickness and hydration; nail health

• Reduced wrinkle formation & cellulite appearance 

• Joint tissue health & function involving cartilage, tendons and ligaments 

• Healthy blood pressure 

• Muscle strength; GI tract health

Fortibone® collagen peptide blend: Clinical, pre-clinical and in vitro research is accumulating to support the benefits of collagen peptides for bone health. 45 This is complementary to the classical approach of ensuring adequate status for bone-supportive nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, silicon, and vitamins D, K1 and K2. In a study of menopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis, compared to placebo, supplementation with 5 g per day of Fortibone® resulted in improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) by 6.4% in the femoral neck and 5.5% in the spine, as well as increased markers of bone formation (PINP), with no change in markers of bone breakdown (CTX 1). 28 The placebo group experienced no changes in BMD and PINP but showed an increase in CTX 1. Another study showed that post-menopausal women supplemented with 10 g of a collagen peptide blend (previous version of Fortibone®) for 3 years reported a fracture rate of just 9%, compared to 42% in a group treated only with calcium. 53 A study supplemented a 10 g dose of collagen peptides in conjunction with calcitonin and reported a higher reduction in bone resorption than in the intervention group with calcitonin alone. 29 Animal studies have also demonstrated benefits of collagen peptide supplementation, including reduced fracture risk, increased BMD, organic mass and collagen content of bone, accelerated fracture healing and improved markers of bone turnover in ovariectomized rats and bone development during growth. 30-33,36,45

Based on evidence presented above, supplementation with Fortibone® demonstrates the potential to improve both essential components of bone – the minerals and the organic content, with emphasis on the collagen related matrix. Both of these aspects of bone quality contribute to the demonstrated reduction of fracture rate. 54


Fortigel® collagen peptide blend has been shown to improve collagen production in joints, resulting in improved cartilage structure (increased glycosaminoglycans content as evidenced by MRI and joint space by X-ray), reduced osteoarthritis symptoms (pain, stiffness), improved joint function, reduced post-exercise joint pain in young athletes and improved ankle stability. 16-26,47,48 Most athletic injuries occur at tendon sites, likely because the tendon is often the weakest link in the chain of transmitting mechanical force. Since the tendon is composed of 65-80% collagen, collagen peptide supplementation has potential to support improved tendon strength and elasticity.

Verisol® collagen peptide blend has been shown to upregulate synthesis of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans in the dermal layer of facial skin, resulting in reduced wrinkles, improved skin elasticity and hydration. 14,15 Verisol® has also demonstrated the ability to improve cellulite appearance by increasing dermal thickness and elasticity. 38 These benefits may also be useful in counteracting age-related skin thinning, manifested as a “crepe-like” appearance. Another study has shown that Verisol® supplementation resulted in improved nail growth and reduced occurrence of brittle nails.51 Verisol® has been shown to reduce inflammatory processes in the skin, with potential for alleviating various clinical inflammatory conditions manifested in epithelial tissues.7,8 Various collagen peptides have been shown to speed healing of bed sores in the elderly,43 support healing of stomach ulcerations40,41 and to have an anti-inflammatory/healing effect in colitis.39

References 

1. Smith K, Rennie MJ. New approaches and recent results concerning human-tissue collagen synthesis. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2007 Sep;10(5):582-90. Review. PubMed PMID: 17693741. 

2. J. C. Waterlow. BOOK: Protein Turnover. 2006. CABi Head office, Oxfordshire, UK ISBN-10-85199-613-2. Chapter 17: Collagen Turnover. 

3. Kjaer M, Langberg H, et al. Metabolic activity and collagen turnover in human tendon in response to physical activity. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2005 Mar;5(1):41-52. Review. PubMed PMID:15788870. 

4. Tirrell TF, Cook MS, et al. Human skeletal muscle biochemical diversiy. J Exp Biol. 2012 Aug 1;215(Pt 15):2551- 9. doi: 10.1242/jeb.069385. Erratum in: J Exp Biol. 2012 Aug 1;215(Pt 15):2931. PMID:22786631. 

5. Welle, Stephen. Human Protein metabolism. Chapter 4: Whole body-Protein Turnover. Turnover of Specific Proteins.

6. Devlin, Thomas M. Textbook of biochemistry. 6TH edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.12/16/2005. ISBN13: 978- 0471678083. 

7. Zague V. A new view concerning the effects of collagen hydrolysate intake on skin properties. Arch Dermatol Res. 2008 Oct;300(9):479-83. doi: 10.1007/s00403-008-0888-4. Epub 2008 Sep 11. PubMed PMID: 18784933. 

8. Zague V, de Freitas V, da Costa Rosa M, de Castro GÁ, Jaeger RG, Machado-Santelli GM. Collagen hydrolysate intake increases skin collagen expression and suppresses matrix metalloproteinase 2 activity. J Med Food. 2011 Jun;14(6):618-24.Epub 2011 Apr 11. PubMed PMID:21480801.

9. Minkiewicz P, Dziuba J, Michalska J. Bovine meat proteins as potential precursors of biologically active peptides--a computational study based on the BIOPEP database. Food Sci Technol Int. 2011 Feb;17(1):39-45. doi: 10.1177/1082013210368461. Epub 2011 Feb 7. PubMed PMID: 21364044. 

10. Paul C, Brady D, Protein value of dietary collagens beyond PDCAAS. (publication in process). 2018.

11. Ch. 10 Protein and amino acids. DRIs (Dietary Reference Intakes) for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (Macronutrients) 2005. ISBN-10: 0-309-08525-X ISBN-13: 978-0-309- 08525-0; 111. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. The National Academies Press; 2005. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10490&p...

12. Meléndez-Hevia E, De Paz-Lugo P, Cornish-Bowden A, Cárdenas ML. A weak link in metabolism: the metabolic capacity for glycine biosynthesis does not satisfy the need for collagen synthesis. J Biosci. 2009 Dec;34(6):853-72. PMID: 20093739. 2 

13. Junjun Wang. Glycine metabolism in animals and humans: implications for nutrition and health. State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China. Amino Acids (Impact Factor: 3.91). 04/2013; DOI: 10.1007/s00726-013-1493-1. 

14. Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(1):47-55. Epub 2013 Aug 14. PubMed PMID: 23949208.

15. Proksch E, Schunck M, Zague V, Segger D, Degwert J, Oesser S. Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(3):113-9. doi:10.1159/000355523. Epub 2013 Dec 24. PubMed PMID: 24401291. 

16. FernandezJL, Perez OM, Effects of gelatin hydrolysates in the prevention of athletic injuries. Archivos del medicine del deporte. 1998; 15: 277-282. 

17. Moskowitz RW, 2000. Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease, Semin Arthritis Rheum, 30, 87 – 99. 

18. Weh L. Changes in the properties of tissue through the administration of gelatine—a biomechanical in-vivo pilot study. Extracta orthopaedica. 2001;4:12-16. 

19. Krug E, On supportive therapy for osteo- and chondropathy (in German), Ernährungsheilkunde. 1979, 28, 1- 23.

20. Clark / Sebastianelli et al. 24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain, Current Medical Research and Opinion, Vol. 24, No. 5, 2008, 1485 – 1496. 

21. McAlindon TE, Nuite M, Krishnan N, Ruthazer R, Price LL, Burstein D, Griffith J, Flechsenhar K. Change in knee osteoarthritis cartilage detected by delayed gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging following treatment with collagen hydrolysate: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (2011), online 3 January 2011. 

22. Götz B, Well-nourished cartilage does not grind (in German), Ärztliche Praxis 1982, 34, 3130-3134. 

23. Oberschelp U, Individual therapy of osteoarthritis is possible (in German), Therapiewoche 1985, 44, 5094- 5097. 

24. Adam M, What effects do gelatine preparations have? Therapy of osteoarthritis (in German), Therapiewoche 1991, 41, 2456-2461. 

25. Carpenter RL, Peel JB, Carpenter MR, Lowndes J, Angelopoulos TJ, Rippe JM, 2005(b). Effectiveness of a collagen hydrolysate-based supplement on joint pain, range of motion and muscle function in individuals with mild osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized clinical trial. Ann Rheum Dis, 64, 1544. 

26 Flechsenhar K / Alf D, Results of a post-marketing surveillance study of collagen hydrolysate CH-Alpha (in German), Orthopädische Praxis 9/2005, 486-494.

27. Hays NP, Kim H, Wells AM, Kajkenova O, Evans WJ. Effects of whey and fortified collagen hydrolysate protein supplements on nitrogen balance and body composition in older women (a study with Pro-Stat). J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Jun;109(6):1082-7. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2009.03.003. PubMed PMID: 19465192. 3 

28. König D, Oesser S, Scharla S, Zdzieblik D, Gollhofer A. Specific Collagen Peptides Improve Bone Mineral Density and Bone Markers in Postmenopausal Women-A Randomized Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2018 Jan 16;10(1). pii: E97. doi:10.3390/nu10010097. PubMed PMID: 29337906; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5793325. 

29. Adam M, Spacek P, Hulejová H, Galiánová A, Blahos J. [Postmenopausal osteoporosis. Treatment with calcitonin and a diet rich in collagen proteins].Cas Lek Cesk. 1996 Jan 31;135(3):74-8. Czech. PubMed PMID: 8625373. 

30. 1: Liu J, Wang Y, Song S, Wang X, Qin Y, Si S, Guo Y. Combined oral administration of bovine collagen peptides with calcium citrate inhibits bone loss in ovariectomized rats. PLoS One. 2015 Aug 10;10(8):e0135019. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135019. eCollection 2015. PubMed PMID: 26258559; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4530891.

31. Takeda S, Park JH, Kawashima E, Ezawa I, Omi N. Hydrolyzed collagen intake increases bone mass of growing rats trained with running exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013 Aug 6;10(1):35. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-10-35. PubMed PMID: 23914839; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3750261.

32. Guillerminet F, Fabien-Soulé V, Even PC, Tomé D, Benhamou CL, Roux C, Blais A. Hydrolyzed collagen improves bone status and prevents bone loss in ovariectomized C3H/HeN mice. Osteoporos Int. 2012 Jul;23(7):1909-19. doi:10.1007/s00198-011-1788-6. Epub 2011 Sep 17. PubMed PMID: 21927918. 

33. de Almeida Jackix E, Cúneo F, Amaya-Farfan J, de Assunção JV, Quintaes KD. A food supplement of hydrolyzed collagen improves compositional and biodynamic characteristics of vertebrae in ovariectomized rats. J Med Food. 2010 Dec;13(6):1385-90. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2009.0256. Epub 2010 Sep 27. PubMed PMID:20874246. 

34. Liu J, Zhang B, Song S, Ma M, Si S, Wang Y, Xu B, Feng K, Wu J, Guo Y. Bovine collagen peptides compounds promote the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 13;9(6):e99920. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099920. eCollection 2014. PubMed PMID: 24926875; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4057461. 35. Kim HK, Kim MG, Leem KH. Osteogenic activity of collagen peptide via ERK/MAPK pathway mediated boosting of collagen synthesis and its therapeutic efficacy in osteoporotic bone by back-scattered electron imaging and microarchitecture analysis. Molecules. 2013 Dec 12;18(12):15474-89. doi:10.3390/molecules181215474. PubMed PMID: 24352008.

36. Xu Y, Han X, Li Y. Effect of marine collagen peptides on long bone development in growing rats. J Sci Food Agric. 2010 Jul;90(9):1485-91. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.3972. PubMed PMID: 20549801.

37. Mizutani K, Ikeda K, Ishikado A, Kawai Y, Yamori Y. Antihypertensive effect of cattle bone collagen-derived peptides in ovariectomized stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2000 MayJun;27(5-6):416-7. PubMed PMID: 10831246. 

38. Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S, Proksch E. Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology. J Med Food. 2015 Dec;18(12):1340-8. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2015.0022. Epub 2015 Nov 12. PubMed PMID: 26561784; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4685482.

39. Ramadass SK, Jabaris SL, Perumal RK, HairulIslam VI, Gopinath A, Madhan B. Type I collagen and its daughter peptides for targeting mucosal healing inulcerative colitis: A new treatment strategy. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2016 Aug 25;91:216-24. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2016.05.015. Epub 2016 May 13. PubMed PMID:27185300. 4 

40. Ashmarin IP, Samonina GE, Badmaeva KE, Bakaeva ZV, Vas'kovskiĭ BV, Zolotarev IuA. [Reculatory fragments of collagen in gastric mucosa homeostasis]. Usp Fiziol Nauk. 2006 Apr-Jun;37(2):11-8. Russian. PubMed PMID: 16758882. 

41.Zolotarev IuA, Badmaeva KE, Bakaeva ZV, Samonina GE, Kopylova GN, Dadaian AK, Zverkov IuB, Garanin SK, Vas'kovskiĭ BV, Ashmarin IP, Miasoedov NF. [Short peptide fragments with antiulcer activity from a collagen hydrolysate]. Bioorg Khim. 2006 Mar-Apr;32(2):192-7. Russian. PubMed PMID: 16637291. 

42. Samonina G, Ashmarin I, Lyapina L. Glyproline peptide family: review on bioactivity and possible origins. Pathophysiology. 2002 Aug;8(4):229-234. PubMed PMID: 12100966. 

43. Lee SK, Posthauer ME, Dorner B, Redovian V, Maloney MJ. Pressure ulcer healing with a concentrated, fortified, collagen protein hydrolysate supplement: a randomized controlled trial. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2006 Mar;19(2):92-6. PubMed PMID: 16557055. 

44. Viguet-Carrin S, Garnero P, Delmas PD. The role of collagen in bone strength. Osteoporos Int. 2006;17(3):319- 36. Epub 2005 Dec 9. Review. PubMed PMID:16341622. 

45. Daneault A, Prawitt J, Fabien Soulé V, Coxam V, Wittrant Y. Biological effect of hydrolyzed collagen on bone metabolism. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017 Jun 13;57(9):1922-1937. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2015.1038377. Review. PubMed PMID: 25976422. 

46. Bala Y, Seeman E. Bone's Material Constituents and their Contribution to Bone Strength in Health, Disease, and Treatment. Calcif Tissue Int. 2015 Sep;97(3):308-26. doi: 10.1007/s00223-015-9971-y. Epub 2015 Feb 25. Review. PubMed PMID: 25712256. 

47. Dressler P, Gehring D, Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Gollhofer A, König D. Improvement of Functional Ankle Properties Following Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides in Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability. J Sports Sci Med. 2018 May 14;17(2):298-304. eCollection 2018 Jun. PubMed PMID: 29769831; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5950747. 

48. Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Gollhofer A, König D. Improvement of activity-related knee joint discomfort following supplementation of specific collagen peptides. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017 Jun;42(6):588-595. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0390. Epub 2017 Jan 24. PubMed PMID: 28177710. 

49. Chiang TI, Chang IC, Lee HH, Hsieh KH, Chiu YW, Lai TJ, Liu JY, Hsu LS, Kao SH. Amelioration of estrogen deficiency-induced obesity by collagen hydrolysate. Int J Med Sci. 2016 Oct 19;13(11):853-857. eCollection 2016. PubMed PMID: 27877077; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5118756. 

50. Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Baumstark MW, Gollhofer A, König D. Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2015 Oct 28;114(8):1237-45. doi: 10.1017/S0007114515002810.Epub 2015 Sep 10. PubMed PMID: 26353786; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4594048. 

51. Hexsel D, Zague V, Schunck M, Siega C, Camozzato FO, Oesser S. Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2017 Dec;16(4):520-526. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12393. Epub 2017 Aug 8. PubMed PMID: 28786550. 

52. Elango J, Sanchez C, de Val JEMS, Henrotin Y, Wang S, Motaung KSCM, Guo R, Wang C, Robinson J, Regenstein JM, Bao B, Wu W. Cross-talk between primary osteocytes and bone marrow macrophages for osteoclastogenesis 5 upon collagen treatment. Sci Rep. 2018 Mar 28;8(1):5318. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-23532-x. PubMed PMID: 29593232; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5871752.

53. Adam M, Spacek P, Hulejova H (2002) What is the effect of collagen peptides oral administration in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Ces Reumatol 10:131-137. 

54. Sroga GE, Vashishth D. Effects of bone matrix proteins on fracture and fragility in osteoporosis. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2012 Jun;10(2):141-50. doi:10.1007/s11914-012-0103-6. Review. PubMed PMID: 22535528; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC3375270