While prior data was mixed, recent data continues to suggest a benefit of collagen and tendons. I have no doubt a stimulus (RT in particular) is required to see any effects and benefits. Note also the dose is high at 30g and added 500mg of vite C, which is essential for connective tissue formation, etc:
“Hydrolysed Collagen Supplementation Enhances Patellar Tendon Adaptations to 12 Weeks’ Resistance Training in Middle-Aged Men”
ABSTRACT
Resistance exercise (RE) with hydrolysed collagen (HC) supplementation increases collagen synthesis in young and middle-aged populations, and further enhances tendon adaptations to chronic RE in young athletes. However, it is unknown if middle-aged tendon can benefit from chronic RE with HC supplementation. We investigated the effects of 12-weeks’ RE, combined with HC supplementation, on changes in patellar tendon (PT) properties in middle-aged men. In a double-blind design, 20 recreationally active men (age, 47 ± 5 years) were randomly assigned to a placebo (PLA, n = 11) or collagen (COL, n = 9) group. Both cohorts completed progressive lower-limb RE twice weekly for 12 weeks and were supplemented post-RE with COL (30 g HC and 50 mg vitamin C) or PLA (30.5 g maltodextrin and 50 mg vitamin C). The following were assessed before and after the 12-week intervention: barbell back squat 10-repetition maximum (10-RM); vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness and PT cross-sectional area (CSA at 25%, 50% and 75% tendon length) using ultrasonography; isometric knee extension maximum voluntary torque (MVT) and peak rate of torque development (pRTD), PT stiffness (k) and Young’s modulus (ℰ) using ultrasonography and isokinetic dynamometry. MVT, pRTD, 10-RM and VL thickness all increased post-training (p < 0.05), but there were no group × time interactions (p > 0.05). Mean PT CSA increased more in COL (+6.8 ± 5.4 mm2) than PLA (+1.2 ± 2.1 mm2, group × time p = 0.027). Similarly, k and ℰ increased more in COL (k, +661 ± 331 N/mm and ℰ, +0.21 ± 0.13 GPa) than PLA (k, +247 ± 305 N/mm, group × time, p = 0.009 and ℰ, +0.09 ± 0.13 GPa, group × time, p = 0.018). In conclusion, 12-weeks’ RE with 30 g HC supplementation augmented gains in PT CSA, stiffness and Young’s modulus in middle-aged men.
Summary
- Twelve weeks’ high-intensity resistance training enhanced muscle size as well as maximal and explosive strength in middle-aged men, but these outcomes were unaffected by hydrolysed collagen supplementation.
- Resistance training without collagen supplementation enhanced patellar tendon stiffness and Young’s modulus but not patellar tendon cross sectional area in this under-researched population.
- However, supplementing resistance training with 30 g hydrolysed collagen supplementation in middle-aged men enhanced patellar tendon stiffness, Young’s modulus and cross-sectional area more than resistance training alone.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejsc.12281
“High-intensity resistance training and collagen supplementation improve patellar tendon adaptations in professional female soccer athletes”
Abstract
We investigated whether 10 weeks of pre-season soccer training (including high-intensity resistance exercise) with hydrolysed collagen (COL) supplementation would confer greater changes in patellar tendon (PT) mechanical and material properties compared with placebo (PLA) in professional female soccer athletes. Eleven athletes from the first team squad of a Football Association Women’s Championship soccer club volunteered to participate in this study (age, 25.7 ± 4.2 years; height, 1.68 ± 0.04 m; mass, 64.0 ± 4.6 kg). Participants were pair-matched for baseline knee extensor maximum isometric voluntary contraction torque, age, height and mass and were randomly assigned to the COL group (n = 6) or PLA group (n = 5). Participants were given 30 g COL or energy-matched (36.5 g maltodextrin and 8.4 g fructose) PLA, plus 500 mg vitamin C before each training session, which consisted of high-intensity lower-limb resistance exercise, plyometric or pitch-based exercise 3 days/week for 10 weeks during the pre-season period. We assessed knee extensor maximum isometric voluntary contraction torque and PT properties using isokinetic dynamometry and ultrasonography before and after the intervention. The PT stiffness [COL, +15.4% ± 3.1% (d = 0.81) vs. PLA, +4.6% ± 3.0% (d = 0.32), P = 0.002] and Young’s modulus [COL, +14.2% ± 4.0% (d = 0.65) vs. PLA, +3.4% ± 2.8% (d = 0.15), P = 0.004] increased more in COL than in PLA. There was a main effect of training on PT cross-sectional area (P = 0.027), but no interaction effect (P = 0.934). To conclude, 10 weeks of pre-season soccer training (incorporating high-intensity resistance exercise) with 30 g COL increased PT stiffness and Young’s modulus more than training alone in professional female soccer athletes. This has positive implications for improving athletic performance and mitigating injury risk.
Highlights
What is the central question of this study?
Does 10 weeks of soccer training (incorporating high-intensity resistance exercise), supplemented with 30 g hydrolysed collagen ingestion, change the mechanical and material properties of the patellar tendon more than training alone in professional female soccer athletes?
What is the main finding and its importance?
Changes in patellar tendon stiffness and Young’s modulus were greater following 10 weeks of training with 30 g collagen supplementation compared with training alone. Given that a stiffer tendon can tolerate greater stress and transmit force more efficiently, combining collagen ingestion with resistance training might help to mitigate injury risk and improve physical performance in this under-researched population.
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1113/EP092106
More info and thoughts on collagen via recent article on latest formula HERE.