Collagen and Vitamin C Supplementation Increases Lower Limb Rate of Force Development

Lis DM, Jordan M, Lipuma T, et al. · International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

The collagen+C group recovered rate of force development to baseline while placebo remained depressed (p = .036), with better countermovement-jump measures (p = .008-.04). A neuromuscular/tendon-stiffness outcome, not cartilage.

Population

Healthy male athletes aged 18-25, double-blind parallel groups, 3 weeks

Intervention

20 g hydrolyzed collagen + 50 mg vitamin C, 60 min before maximal muscle-power training, daily for 3 weeks

Comparator

20 g maltodextrin placebo

Limitations

Short duration; performance surrogates rather than tissue or joint outcomes; young trained males only.