Impact of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides on Joint Discomforts in the Lower Extremity during Daily Activities: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Schulze C, Schunck M, Zdzieblik D, Oesser S · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Extends the FORTIGEL knee-pain result out of the young-athlete population it was built on. Physician-rated pain fell against placebo at rest (p=0.018) and during walking (p=0.032); participants reported less pain climbing stairs (p=0.040) and kneeling (p<0.001), and fewer restrictions squatting (p=0.014).

Population

Healthy men and women over 18 across a wide age range with functional knee and hip pain during daily activities — not athletes, and not diagnosed osteoarthritis

Intervention

5 g specific collagen peptides daily for 12 weeks

Comparator

Placebo

Limitations

Reported as a list of separately significant items on a 10-point numeric rating scale with no stated primary endpoint and no multiplicity correction, and the paper reports p values without between-group effect sizes. Participants had joint discomfort rather than diagnosed osteoarthritis. Oesser is at the Collagen Research Institute, has given lectures supported by GELITA, and is a co-inventor on collagen-peptide patents.