Written by Joyce Smith, BS. Six months’ supplementation with SCP resulted in significant improvements in ankle stability, reduced sprains and a reduced risk of further injury in the three-month follow-up period.
Ankle sprains, of which 31-40% may lead to permanent damage, are one of the most common sports injuries among athletes. Chronic ankle instability (CAI) refers to the progression of recurrent ankle sprains and the residual symptoms. Studies have shown that CAI can lead to ankle pain, weakness and instability which can affect participation in sports and other physical exercise and even the activities of daily living 1,2.The ankle joint, predominantly 70% collagen, provides the tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues with elasticity and firmness and is one of the main ingredients of the extracellular matrix 3. Collagen peptides (CPs), when consumed orally, enter the bloodstream via the intestinal tract to stimulate healing in the extracellular matrix 4. Preclinical studies of specific collagen peptides (SCPs) have been shown to increase Collagen types 1 and 111 production, RNA-expression and biosynthesis of collagen, proteoglycans and elastin in the Achilles tendon 5 while in vivo studies have demonstrated improvements in joint pain, stiffness and strength following collagen intake 6,7. The lack of studies on CAI prompted an investigation to determine the effect of SCPs on the subjective function and mechanical stability of the ankle in participants with CAI.
In a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial, 8 sixty CAI participants (fifty completed the study) supplemented with either 5 g of SCP (Gelita AG, Germany) or 5 g of a placebo (Maltodextrin, MDX) for six months. All participants were required to do three homebased 10-minute exercise sessions per week (rope skipping, squats, and one-legged heel raises) on alternate days, and to consume their CP supplements within one hour after exercise completion.
Both the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and the German version of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM-G) were used to measure the subjective perceived function of the ankle. To assess mechanical stability, researchers measured ankle stiffness with an ankle arthrometer. Fifty participants completed the study.
Researchers found no significant differences between the intervention and placebo groups for dietary intake of carbohydrates, fats and proteins at baseline and during pre and post-tests. As well, physical exercise, evaluated for energy consumption, did not differ between the two groups for baseline and pre and post- tests during the 6-month intervention.
In a three-month follow-up, ANOVA analysis showed that ankle sprains and the risk of ankle injuries were significantly more reduced in the SPC group (P < 0.001) and ankle stability increased more in the SPC group (as determined by the CAIT and the FAAM-G) during both the activities of daily living and sports participation (P<0.05) compared with the placebo group. The arthrometer measurements detected no significant changes in ankle stiffness and mechanical stability between the two groups at both 3 and 6-month follow-ups. After six months of supplementation, the subjective report of perceived ankle stability significantly improved, suggesting potential benefits of SCP intake. Based on the study data indicating a reduction in the re-injury rate during the 6-week follow-up, researchers suggest that SPC supplementation may offer clinical benefits for patients with CAI. Further studies are warranted.
Source: Dressler, Patrick, Dominic Gehring, Denise Zdzieblik, Steffen Oesser, Albert Gollhofer, and Daniel König. “Improvement of functional ankle properties following supplementation with specific collagen peptides in athletes with chronic ankle instability.” Journal of sports science & medicine 17, no. 2 (2018): 298
Posted May 28, 2020.
Joyce Smith, BS, is a degreed laboratory technologist. She received her bachelor of arts with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan and her internship through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She currently resides in Bloomingdale, IL.
References:
- Hubbard TJ. Ligament laxity following inversion injury with and without chronic ankle instability. Foot Ankle Int. 2008;29(3):305-311.
- Hubbard TJ, Hertel J. Mechanical contributions to chronic lateral ankle instability. Sports medicine (Auckland, NZ). 2006;36(3):263-277.
- Kjaer M, Langberg H, Heinemeier K, et al. From mechanical loading to collagen synthesis, structural changes and function in human tendon. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. 2009;19(4):500-510.
- Ohara H, Matsumoto H, Ito K, Iwai K, Sato K. Comparison of quantity and structures of hydroxyproline-containing peptides in human blood after oral ingestion of gelatin hydrolysates from different sources. J Agric Food Chem. 2007;55(4):1532-1535.
- Schunck M, Oesser S. Specific collagen peptides benefit the biosynthesis of matrix molecules of tendons and ligaments. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013;10(1):P23.
- Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Gollhofer A, König D. Improvement of activity-related knee joint discomfort following supplementation of specific collagen peptides. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme. 2017;42(6):588-595.
- Weh L, Petau C. Change in the Properties of Tissue Through the Administration of Gelatine: a Biomechanical In-Vivo Pilot Study. Extracta orthopaedica. 2001;24(4):12-16.
- Dressler P, Gehring D, Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Gollhofer A, König D. Improvement of Functional Ankle Properties Following Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides in Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability. J Sports Sci Med. 2018;17(2):298-304.
