Improvement of activity-related knee joint discomfort following supplementation of specific collagen peptides

Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Gollhofer A, König D · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism

Activity-related knee pain decreased significantly more with collagen peptides than placebo; pain at rest did not differ.

Population

Physically active adults with activity-related knee pain, no diagnosed joint disease; 160 randomised, 139 completed

Intervention

5 g specific collagen peptides (FORTIGEL) daily for 12 weeks

Comparator

Placebo

Limitations

Funded by GELITA Health GmbH, whose FORTIGEL was tested, with co-author Oesser at the Collagen Research Institute. Subjective pain endpoints, and the between-group difference was 5.6 mm on a 100 mm scale (a 19.5 fall against 13.9, p = 0.046), below the usual minimal clinically important difference; 21 of 160 randomised did not complete.