Six weeks of intake for the collagen ingredient were associated with an attenuation of deleterious changes in muscle tissue damage and inflammatory biomarkers including creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and C-reactive protein, according to findings published in the Proceedings of the Eleventh International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo.
Biocell Collagen is described as a hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage extract. The three main constituents, collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid, are reduced to highly-bioavailable, very low molecular weight forms through a hydrolysis process.
“Extending its market-leading position as a key joint and skin health ingredient, this new clinical study in recreationally active healthy subjects provides intriguing dataset suggesting that this patented, research-backed dietary supplement has promising new applications in sports nutrition,” said Suhail Ishaq, president of BioCell Technology.
“We are encouraged by the growth that we are seeing in the sports nutrition market,” Ishaq told NutraIngredients-USA. “Healthy joints are essential for any sports related activity, from cardio to resistance training. Equally important are the neighboring connective tissues surrounding the joints such as tendons and ligaments, which help facilitate flexibility and movement while protecting against injury. Whether you are aiming for prevention or trying to return to normal training after an injury, you need a consistent supply of connective tissue-specific nutrients that provide the biochemical precursors and building blocks needed to promote optimal joint health.
“BioCell Collagen has these molecular components which were found to impact key biochemical markers of connective and skeletal muscle tissue damage and enhance stress resilience following intense resistance exercise - without the potential undesirable side effects of pain medications.”
Study details
Investigators from the Center for Applied Health Sciences (CAHS) recruited eight healthy, recreationally active people with an average age of 29 to participate in their study. Volunteers were randomized to consume three grams per day of the collagen or placebo for six weeks. All the participants underwent an upper body muscle-damaging resistance exercise challenge on day 43, and a re-challenge three days later.
Results showed that the collagen supplements were associated with the attenuation in increases of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and C-reactive protein that were observed in the placebo group.
In addition, bench press repetitions decreased by 60% and 55% at days 43 and 46, respectively, in the placebo group, but this only by 49% and 43%, respectively in the collagen group.
“The preliminary data of this proof-of-concept study suggests that daily intake of BCC for 6 weeks may favorably impact key biochemical markers of connective and skeletal muscle tissue damage and enhance stress resilience following intense resistance exercise,” wrote the researchers. “Supplementation was well tolerated and did not adversely affect markers of health or side effect profiles.”
Ishaq confirmed that the company is planning additional trials to corroborate the findings, and they are in the protocol development stage of a follow up larger study.
Source: Proceedings of the Eleventh International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo
11(Suppl 1):P48, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-11-S1-P48
“Effects of BioCell Collagen on connective tissue protection and functional recovery from exercise in healthy adults: a pilot study”
Authors: H.L. Lopez, S.M. Habowski, J.E. Sandrock, A.W. Kedia, T.N. Ziegenfuss