TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effects of Ingesting a Single Bolus of Hydrolyzed Collagen versus Free Amino Acids on Muscle Connective Protein Synthesis Rates
AU - Aussieker, Thorben
AU - Kaiser, Jeremias
AU - Hendriks, Floris K.
AU - Janssen, Tom A.H.
AU - Senden, Joan M.
AU - Van Kranenburg, Janneau M.X.
AU - Goessens, Joy P.B.
AU - Zorenc, Antoine
AU - Kornips, Esther
AU - Brinkhuizen, Tjinta
AU - Baar, Keith
AU - Snijders, Tim
AU - Holwerda, Andrew M.
AU - Van Loon, Luc J.C.
N1 - Funding Information:
Conflict of Interest and Funding Source: This study was funded by funded by a public-private cooperation between Maastricht University, The Netherlands and the Tessenderlo Group NV, Belgium. L.J.C. vL. and his laboratory has received research grants, consulting fees, speaking honoraria, or a combination of these for research on the impact of exercise and nutrition on muscle metabolism, which include research funding from companies that produce collagen such as Gelita and Tessenderlo Group NV. A full overview on research funding is provided at https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/l.vanloon . T.S. was supported by a research grant from Gelita AR to perform studies on collagen protein ingestion and post-exercise recovery. A.M.H. was supported by a research grant from Tessenderlo Group NV. K. Baar has also received grants, consulting fees, speaking honoraria, and donations from nutritional companies such as PepsiCo, Bergstrom Nutrition, Ynsect, and GelTor to study the effect of dietary collagen on endogenous collagen synthesis. T.A., J.K., F.K.H., T.A.H.J., J.M.S., J.M.X.vK., J.P.B.G., A.Z., E.K. and T.B. report no conflicts of interest related to this work.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 American College of Sports Medicine.
PY - 2025/1/1
Y1 - 2025/1/1
N2 - The suggested anabolic properties of hydrolyzed collagen on connective tissue may be attributed to the delivery of amino acids as precursors or to anabolic signaling properties of bioactive peptides. Purpose To assess the impact of ingesting a single bolus of hydrolyzed collagen or free amino acids on myofibrillar and muscle connective protein synthesis rates. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, parallel design, 45 young male (n = 21) and female (n = 24) adults (age: 23 ± 3 y; BMI: 22.3 ± 2.2 kg/m2) received intravenous infusions with L-[ring-13C6]-phenylalanine. Following unilateral resistance exercise, participants ingested either 30 g hydrolyzed collagen (COLL, n = 15), 30 g free amino acids reflecting the collagen amino acid profile (AA, n = 15), or a non-caloric placebo (PLA, n = 15). Blood and muscle tissue samples were collected over 6 h to assess myofibrillar and muscle connective protein synthesis rates and associated signaling responses. Results Both collagen and free amino acid ingestion substantially increased circulating plasma amino acids concentrations and effected collagen turnover proteins. Collagen and free amino acid ingestion did not significantly increase myofibrillar protein synthesis rates in the rested (0.039 ± 0.011, 0.037 ± 0.010, and 0.036 ± 0.015%·h-1 in PLA, COLL and AA, respectively) or the exercised (0.049 ± 0.010, 0.048 ± 0.011, and 0.045 ± 0.013%·h-1) leg (P > 0.05). Similarly, both collagen and free amino acid ingestion did not significantly increase muscle connective protein synthesis rates in the rested (0.065 ± 0.014, 0.063 ± 0.017, and 0.061 ± 0.025%·h-1 in PLA, COLL and AA, respectively) or the exercised (0.098 ± 0.023, 0.092 ± 0.028, and 0.085 ± 0.024%·h-1) leg (P > 0.05). Conclusions Ingestion of a single bolus of collagen hydrolysate or free amino acids substantially increases circulating amino acids concentrations, particularly glycine, but does not further increase myofibrillar or muscle connective protein synthesis rates at rest or during recovery from exercise in healthy, recreationally active young men and women.
AB - The suggested anabolic properties of hydrolyzed collagen on connective tissue may be attributed to the delivery of amino acids as precursors or to anabolic signaling properties of bioactive peptides. Purpose To assess the impact of ingesting a single bolus of hydrolyzed collagen or free amino acids on myofibrillar and muscle connective protein synthesis rates. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, parallel design, 45 young male (n = 21) and female (n = 24) adults (age: 23 ± 3 y; BMI: 22.3 ± 2.2 kg/m2) received intravenous infusions with L-[ring-13C6]-phenylalanine. Following unilateral resistance exercise, participants ingested either 30 g hydrolyzed collagen (COLL, n = 15), 30 g free amino acids reflecting the collagen amino acid profile (AA, n = 15), or a non-caloric placebo (PLA, n = 15). Blood and muscle tissue samples were collected over 6 h to assess myofibrillar and muscle connective protein synthesis rates and associated signaling responses. Results Both collagen and free amino acid ingestion substantially increased circulating plasma amino acids concentrations and effected collagen turnover proteins. Collagen and free amino acid ingestion did not significantly increase myofibrillar protein synthesis rates in the rested (0.039 ± 0.011, 0.037 ± 0.010, and 0.036 ± 0.015%·h-1 in PLA, COLL and AA, respectively) or the exercised (0.049 ± 0.010, 0.048 ± 0.011, and 0.045 ± 0.013%·h-1) leg (P > 0.05). Similarly, both collagen and free amino acid ingestion did not significantly increase muscle connective protein synthesis rates in the rested (0.065 ± 0.014, 0.063 ± 0.017, and 0.061 ± 0.025%·h-1 in PLA, COLL and AA, respectively) or the exercised (0.098 ± 0.023, 0.092 ± 0.028, and 0.085 ± 0.024%·h-1) leg (P > 0.05). Conclusions Ingestion of a single bolus of collagen hydrolysate or free amino acids substantially increases circulating amino acids concentrations, particularly glycine, but does not further increase myofibrillar or muscle connective protein synthesis rates at rest or during recovery from exercise in healthy, recreationally active young men and women.
KW - CONNECTIVE TISSUE
KW - GLYCINE
KW - MYOFIBRILLAR PROTEINS
KW - RESISTANCE EXERCISE
U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003788
DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003788
M3 - Article
SN - 0195-9131
JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
M1 - 3788
ER -