A new clinical study published in the British Journal of Nutrition raises hope for millions of elderly people: in combination with resistance training, specific collagen peptides developed by GELITA, the world’s leading expert for collagen science and clinical research, significantly increase muscle mass and strength and decrease fat mass.
A steady loss of lean muscle mass along with fat mass increase, a condition known as sarcopenia, is one of the hallmarks of ageing that always goes hand in hand with a loss of strength and mobility.
Concerning demographic change, sarcopenia poses a serious health problem to our ageing society.
Sarcopenia affects millions of ageing adults. It not only reduces mobility, but also increases the risk for elderly falling. Thus, it is not only one of the greatest long-term threats to our ability to live healthy and independently, but also places an ever greater burden on our healthcare system.
To fight sarcopenia, GELITA, the world’s leading collagen protein expert and solution provider for health and nutrition issues, has developed specific bioactive collagen peptides named BODYBALANCE. Now, a double blind placebo-controlled study was done at the Institute of Sports and Sports Science at the University of Freiburg, Germany, that included 60 sarcopenic men aged 65 and older, with a mean age of 72 years. It is the first study that investigates the effects of collagen peptides on body composition and muscle strength.
Two comparison groups
The participants were divided into two groups. During the 12 week study period, both groups underwent the same guided resistance training programme, with three sessions per week. One group was supplemented with a placebo on a daily basis, the other with BODYBALANCE collagen peptides (15g in powder form dissolved in 250mL of water. The participants drank the solution within one hour after the training. The training was done on fitness devices such as pull down, leg press, bench press and back press machines.
Increased benefits thanks to specific collagen peptides
The main finding of the present study is that specific collagen peptides further increased the benefits of the resistance training in elderly people with sarcopenia. Compared with the placebo, participants in the collagen-supplemented group showed a significant increase in fat-free mass (+4.2kg compared with +2.9kg) and muscle strength (+16.5Nm compared with +7.3Nm), as well as a statistically significant reduction in fat mass (-5.4kg compared with -3.5kg).
In conclusion, the study results demonstrate that the combination of resistance exercise and specific collagen peptides supplementation is well suited to strengthen muscular power and to fight and prevent sarcopenia.