Research backs collagen-calcium combo for post-menopausal bone loss
The research compared the effects of daily supplementation of 5 g of calcium-collagen chelate (CC) containing 500 mg of calcium and 200 IU [International Unit] of vitamin D with a control group given just 500 mg of calcium and 200 IU of vitamin D on post-menopausal women with osteopenia - a condition whereby bone mineral density is lower than average.
Published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, the researchers said: “The loss of whole body bone mineral density in women taking CC was substantially lower than that of the control group at 12 months in those who completed the study and the ITT [intent-to-treat] analysis, respectively.”
The researchers from the Florida State University evaluated total body bone mineral density as well as that of the lumbar (the five vertebrae between rib cage and pelvis) and hip at the beginning of the trial, six months in and at the end of the 12 months using X-ray absorptiometry.
The research was funded by US functional ingredients firm AIDP, which also provided the patented calcium-collagen chelate supplement KoACT used in the trial.
Blood biomarkers
The findings followed a previous three-month intervention study by the same researchers that suggested dietary supplementation of calcium-collagen chelate was effective in improving bone mineral density and blood biomarkers of bone turnover in osteopenic post-menopausal women.
This latest research, involving 39 post-menopausal women with osteopenia, also looked at blood biomarkers of bone turnover at six and 12 months. The results showed the CC group had significantly reduced levels of sclerostin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and higher bone-specific alkaline phosphatase than the control at six months.
Proprietary research and recommendations
One of the study’s researchers, Dr Bahram Arjmandi, said the study was the first long-term clinical trial to directly compare the effects of the calcium collagen-chelated product to that of calcium and vitamin D on post-menopausal women.
“We conclude that supplementation with KoACT may provide protection against bone loss and increase bone turnover for which supplementation of calcium and vitamin D alone could not achieve,” he said.
Research and development vice president for the company and one of the authors listed for the study, Jennifer Gu, said the research could spur more post-menopausal women to consider supplementation.
"We know that a large percentage of post-menopausal women are not taking a nutritional supplement for bone health. Those who do normally buy some form of calcium product.”
Source: The Journal of Medicinal Food
Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1089/jmf.2014.0100
“A Calcium-Collagen Chelate Dietary Supplement Attenuates Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial”
Authors: M. L. Elam, S. A. Johnson, S. Hooshmand, R. G. Feresin, M. E. Payton, J. Gu and B. H. Arjmandi
