Tom Clifford[1] · Matthew Ventress[2] · Dean M. Allerton[2] · Sarah Stansfield[2] · Jonathan C. Y. Tang[3,4] · William D. Fraser[3,4] · Barbara Vanhoecke[4]· Janne Prawitt[4] · Emma Stevenson[1]

Received: 18 October 2018 / Accepted: 19 January 2019 © The Author(s) 2019

Abstract

This study examined whether consuming collagen peptides (CP) before and after strenuous exercise alters markers of muscle damage, inflammation and bone turnover. Using a double-blind, independent group’s design, 24 recreationally active males consumed either 20 g day−1 of CP or a placebo control (CON) for 7 days before and 2 days after performing 150 drop jumps. Maximal isometric voluntary contractions, countermovement jumps (CMJ), muscle soreness (200 mm visual analogue scale), pressure pain threshold, Brief Assessment of Mood Adapted (BAM +) and a range of blood markers associated with muscle damage, inflammation and bone turnover C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (β-CTX) and N-terminal propeptides of type 1 pro-collagen (P1NP) were measured before supplementation (baseline; BL), pre, post, 1.5, 24 and 48 h post-exercise. Muscle soreness was not significantly different in CP and CON (P = 0.071) but a large effect size was evident at 48 h post- exercise, indicative of lower soreness in the CP group (90.42 ± 45.33 mm vs. CON 125.67 ± 36.50 mm; ES = 2.64). CMJ height recovered quicker with CP than CON at 48 h (P = 0.050; CP 89.96 ± 12.85 vs. CON 78.67 ± 14.41% of baseline values; ES = 0.55). There were no statistically significant effects for the other dependent variables (P > 0.05). β-CTX and P1NP were unaffected by CP supplementation (P > 0.05). In conclusion, CP had moderate benefits for the recovery of CMJ and muscle soreness but had no influence on inflammation and bone collagen synthesis.

Keywords Muscle soreness · Exercise recovery · Collagen · Hydrolyzed collagen · Bone turnover · Inflammation