Effekt av kollagenpeptider på ligament och senor

[King Grub]

Background

A very recent clinical trial demonstrated that the intake of specific collagen peptides (TENDOFORTE®), has a positive impact on subjects suffering from chronic ankle instability (CAI)[1]. After a three month supplementation of TENDOFORTE®, ankle stability clearly improved compared to placebo, as indicated by the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (p < 0.01). In addition, a three-month follow-up revealed a significant decline in the number of ankle joint injuries (p < 0.05). The reason for the positive clinical results observed was unclear. Therefore, the effect of TENDOFORTE® was investigated in pre-clinical tests on human ligament and tendon cells to elucidate the direct impact of specific collagen peptide supplementation on the extracellular matrix molecule (ECM) synthesis.

Materials and methods

Primary fibroblasts derived from human anterior cruciate ligaments and Achilles tendons were isolated by enzymatic digestion and seeded in monolayer cultures. After 80% cell confluence, the regular culture medium was supplemented with specific bioactive collagen peptides (TENDOFORTE®, GELITA AG, Germany). The RNA expression of the extracellular matrix molecules (ECM), type I collagen, proteoglycans and – in the case of ligament cells - elastin was determined via real-time PCR after 24 hours of culture. Furthermore, the ECM biosynthesis of tendon and ligament derived fibroblasts was determined using validated methods like western blotting, Alcian blue staining, or 14[C]-incorporation assay. Statistically significant differences in the RNA expression and ECM biosynthesis were tested in comparison to untreated control experiments with the One-Student’s t-test.

Results

The data revealed that supplementation with specific collagen peptides led to a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in the RNA expression of the tested ECM molecules (type I collagen, proteoglycans, elastin) in ligament cells compared with placebo. These data were confirmed on protein level with a 20 to 50% (p < 0.05) increase in the biosynthesis of the matrix molecules after TENDOFORTE® treatment. Comparable results could be observed after supplementation in tendon cells. On RNA level, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in type I collagen and proteoglycan expression was determined compared to the untreated controls. Moreover, the biosynthesis of collagen and proteoglycans increased significantly with TENDOFORTE® treatment.

Conclusions

The results clearly show the stimulatory impact of specific collagen peptides on ECM molecules in ligament and tendons. The increased biosynthesis of the predominant matrix molecules in both tissues might explain the positive results on ankle stability and the reduced injury rate observed in the clinical trial.

Positive impact of specific bioactive collagen peptide intake on ligaments and tendons. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2018 15(Suppl 1):256.