[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/research-updates-the-latest-and-greatest-on-collagen\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/research-updates-the-latest-and-greatest-on-collagen\/","headline":"Research Updates: The Latest and Greatest on Collagen","name":"Research Updates: The Latest and Greatest on Collagen","description":"Print PDF eBook Facebook Twitter Gmail LinkedIn Pinterest Here at the Center for Better Bones, we try to keep up with the latest research and developments on all of our favorite nutrients. Today, we are going to report on two exciting studies on collagen!\u00a0\u00a0 Table of Contents Toggle   2 Minutes ReadCollagen Supplementation Improves Body Composition […]","datePublished":"2020-08-10","dateModified":"2026-04-22","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/#Person","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/","identifier":72,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Center for Better Bones","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","width":150,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.jpg","height":1109,"width":2120},"url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/research-updates-the-latest-and-greatest-on-collagen\/","about":["Bone Nutrition"],"wordCount":565,"articleBody":" Print PDF eBook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwitter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPinterest\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHere at the Center for Better Bones, we try to keep up with the latest research and developments on all of our favorite nutrients. Today, we are going to report on two exciting studies on collagen!\u00a0\u00a0Table of ContentsToggle     2 Minutes ReadCollagen Supplementation Improves Body Composition and Muscle Strength\u00a0Collagen Peptides Improve Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction\u00a0\u00a0Collagen Supplementation Improves Body Composition and Muscle Strength\u00a0A randomized controlled trial investigated the impacts of collagen supplementation in men with\u00a0sarcopenia\u00a0(low muscle mass), in combination with a 12-week resistance training program. Participants were either given 15 grams\u00a0of collagen peptides per day or a placebo, and were instructed to drink the solution as soon as possible after their resistance training session, or at least within one hour.\u00a0\u00a0After 12 weeks, both groups gained muscle mass while decreasing fat mass. However, the collagen-supplemented group\u00a0fared much better. The collagen-supplemented group:\u00a0Had significantly more gains in muscle mass than the placebo group,\u00a0Saw a more profound increase in muscle strength than the placebo group,\u00a0and\u00a0Had a higher loss of fat mass than the placebo group.\u00a0Reference:\u00a0View research study on PubMed\u00a0Collagen Peptides Improve Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction\u00a0\u00a0For context, our intestinal barrier is a protective membrane that prevents toxins and undigested proteins from leaking from the gut into the bloodstream, while allowing nutrients to\u00a0pass through\u00a0into the blood. It is responsible for nutrient absorption, and defense against antigens and foreign organisms. In fact, almost 70% of the entire human immune system is found in our gut, making sure that unwanted foreign elements do not get into the blood. The intestinal epithelial barrier can be damaged from stress, infection, severe inflammation,\u00a0or repair\u00a0deficit. This damage is associated with several conditions including food allergies, celiac disease,\u00a0and autoimmune diseases like\u00a0irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)\u00a0and inflammatory bowel disease.\u00a0Inflammation can\u00a0induce\u00a0damage\u00a0to this delicate, protective intestinal barrier. Specifically, TNF-alpha, a common inflammatory cytokine, increases permeability of the intestine\u00a0and can\u00a0cause\u00a0defects in the tight junctions that form the barrier. This can allow molecules and organisms to \u201cleak\u201d through the intestinal wall and stimulate a more intense immune response\u00a0(commonly known as\u00a0\u201cleaky gut\u201d).\u00a0This specific study looked at the use of Alaska\u00a0pollock-skin-derived collagen\u00a0(fish)\u00a0peptides on tight-junction (intestinal epithelial wall) permeability in the presence of inflammatory marker TNF-alpha.\u00a0What the researchers found was that this fish collagen might well have the potential to fortify the protective intestinal barrier.\u00a0\u00a0Specifically, cells treated with fish collagen had significantly decreased intestinal barrier dysfunction when challenged with an inflammatory force (TNF-alpha)\u00a0over\u00a0those who were not treated with fish collagen.\u00a0\u00a0Although this study was done in a cell model, it shows promising evidence that collagen peptides may decrease inflammation-induced damage to our intestinal epithelial barrier!\u00a0\u00a0View research study on PubMed\u00a0To learn more about collagen and bone health read my comprehensive report: Should I take Collagen for Osteoporosis? References:\u00a0Zdzieblik, D., et al.\u00a02015.\u00a0Collagen\u00a0peptide\u00a0supplementation in\u00a0combination with\u00a0resistance\u00a0training\u00a0improves\u00a0body\u00a0composition and\u00a0increases\u00a0muscle\u00a0strength in\u00a0elderly\u00a0sarcopenic\u00a0men: A\u00a0randomised\u00a0controlled\u00a0trial.\u00a0The British Journal of Nutrition\u00a0114(8):1237\u20131245. doi:10.1017\/S0007114515002810.\u00a0Chen, Q.\u00a0et al.\u00a02017.\u00a0Collagen\u00a0peptides\u00a0ameliorate\u00a0intestinal\u00a0epithelial\u00a0barrier\u00a0dysfunction in\u00a0immunostimulatory\u00a0caco-2\u00a0cell\u00a0monolayers via\u00a0enhancing\u00a0tight\u00a0junctions.\u00a0Food & Function\u00a08(3):1144\u20131151. doi:10.1039\/c6fo01347c.\u00a0Read our evidence-based review of science-backed supplements for stronger bones."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Bone Nutrition","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research Updates: The Latest and Greatest on Collagen","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/research-updates-the-latest-and-greatest-on-collagen\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]