Collagen hydrolysate takes stage at congress

The use of collagen hydrolysate for osteoarthritis patients warrants further study, said experts meeting at last week's World Congress on Osteoarthritis held in Berlin, Germany.

Joint diseases account for the majority of all chronic conditions in people aged 65 and older and osteoarthritis represents the single most prevalent age-related disease. Experts predict a dramatic increase in the incidence of joint disease with the increasing numbers of elderly in both developed and developing countries. It will also be impacted by the growing rates of obesity.

While there are currently no official recommendations for the quantity of collagen hydrolysate that will benefit health, benefit has been shown by taking 10g of collagen hydrolysate for at least three months. More research is however needed to confirm the value of the ingredient, a type of gelatine derived from collagen.

Dr Steffen Oesser, from the University of Kiel, Germany, provided details of a study showing that collagen hydrolysate can reach and affect the joint tissue. Along with colleagues, he studied the absorption rate and accumulation levels of collagen hydrolysate in subjects by monitoring its uptake in the body. Results indicated that upon rapid intestinal absorption of supplemental collagen hydrolysate, subjects experienced a doubling in the quantity of the nutrient accumulated within their cartilage tissue as compared to the control group.

Next, the Kiel team set out to determine whether the nutrient may positively affect the joint tissue once it has accumulated. This would require either inhibition of the degradation of the supportive joint tissue and/or stimulation of new cartilage cells to compensate for naturally degraded tissues. In a cell culture model, researchers have been able to demonstrate that the presence of collagen hydrolysate in the culture stimulated collagen production. When compared with collagen that is naturally present in the cells, the native collagen did not lead to this stimulatory effect. The supportive joint tissues were also stimulated to reproduce when in the presence of collagen hydrolysate, implying that the compound may be able to reduce degenerative changes in the joint tissue.

Dr Oesser said: "These are significant findings because we are beginning to learn that collagen hydrolysate is not only reaching the targeted joint tissue, but we are able to observe that its presence can also create a positive change in the joint."​

Dr Hans-Konrad Selbmann, from the German University in Tuebingen, highlighted two studies within the last decade, which stand out. The first was a study from 1991 by Adam et al which compared four treatments (collagen hydrolysate, gelatine, a gelatine-glycine-calcium-fluid combination and albumin proteins) to reduce the patients' levels of pain and their need for pain medications. The study found that all three of the gelatine treatments were effective and significantly superior to the protein supplementation.

The researcher also discussed a trial by Moskowitz et al of subjects in the US, Germany and the UK. The two-arm, double blind trial, using 10g of collagen hydrolysate daily or placebo for 24 weeks, evaluated pain, physical function and overall results. All variables showed a significant improvement in the German subjects. However, there were no significant differences for the total study group across the three variables, indicating that there are multinational influences that could not be standardised in the study protocol.

"The efficacy results in these studies demonstrate a distinct clinical impact of collagen hydrolysate in patients suffering from OA that warrants further clinical trial and examination,"​ said Dr Selbmann.

Presenting the findings of a meta-analysis on glucosamine and chondroitin reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2000), Dr Kristine Clark, a sports nutritionist with Pennsylvania State University Orthopedics, added:"Studies on dietary supplements have generated numerous options for people with degenerative joint disease. Further research on collagen hydrolysate should only continue to provide new opportunities."​The 8th world congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International​ took place in Berlin from 12-15 October 2003.