Effects of Collagen Peptide Supplementation on Muscle and Tendon Damage and Function

A Randomized Double-blinded Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Effect of Collagen Peptide (Collagen Peptan) Supplementation on Muscle and Tendon Damage, Repair, and Functional Capacity During Exercise Training Overload

The aim of the study is to investigate the acute and short-term effects of collagen peptides (Collagen Peptan) on muscle and connective tissue during an eccentric overload training period. Currently, all studies investigating the effects of post-exercise collagen supplementation did this in the absence of whey proteins, which are part of the standard recommendations for post-exercise recovery. The investigators will therefore investigate whether the combined intake of whey proteins and collagen peptides ensures a better recovery of exercise performance and whether it can prevent or reduce symptoms of muscle and tendon overload during a three-week eccentric overload training period (n = 22).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Sports participation, including general fitness training, between 2 and 5 hours max per week
• Body mass index between 18.5 and 25

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any kind of injury/pathology that is a contra-indication to perform high-intensity exercise - Intake of any medication or nutritional supplement that could impact muscle protein synthesis and/or exercise performance during the period of the study
• Intake of any whey protein, casein of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements from 1 month prior to the start of the study
• Blood donation within 3 months prior to the start of the study
• Smoking
• Current participation in another research trial
• Any other argument to believe that the subject is unlikely to successfully complete the full study