Absorption of bioactive peptides following collagen hydrolysate intake: a randomized, double-blind crossover study in healthy individuals

Virgilio N, Schön C, Mödinger Y, van der Steen B, Vleminckx S, van Holthoon FL, Kleinnijenhuis AJ, Silva CIF, Prawitt J · Frontiers in Nutrition

Source and molecular weight mattered on some measures and not on others. Free hydroxyproline uptake was comparable across every hydrolysate regardless of origin or molecular weight. Total hydroxyproline was not: its area under the curve ran 36-47% above free hydroxyproline in every case, the signature of substantial di- and tripeptide absorption, and it did separate the products — porcine above fish and the 2,000 Da bovine above the 5,000 Da bovine, both by a factor of 1.2. Pro-Hyp, the most abundant peptide measured, was 1.4-fold higher after porcine than after bovine at the same molecular weight. The authors state plainly that nobody yet knows what circulating concentration is needed to trigger anything in a target tissue.

Population

Healthy non-smoking adults aged 19-50, randomized double-blind crossover with a 7-day washout

Intervention

Single 10 g doses of collagen hydrolysate (Peptan) from fish, porcine and bovine skin and hide, bovine at 2,000 and 5,000 Da

Limitations

A single-dose pharmacokinetic pilot in six people, three women and three men, with no physiological endpoint. All authors are employed by Rousselot, BioTeSys or Triskelion — the manufacturer and its contract laboratories.