How can Collagen Hydrolysate help in Bone and Joint Disease?
A research study has been done by Roland Moskowitz in 2000 on collagen hydrolysate and its effect on osteoarthritis and osteoporosis patients.
Click on the link to view the research paper: 4.Moskowitz
Summary of the study and a few points to highlight:
- Glucosamine and chondroitin has effects resemblance of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). Therefore it only provides symptomatic relief to joint pain.
- Collagen hydrolysate (contains in Recogen) promotes cartilage matrix synthesis that brought about the analgesic effect and hence helps reduce pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
- Collagen hydrolysate also maintains bone integrity and helps brittle nails and abnormal scalp hair.
- Collagen hydrolysate is considered as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) food products and proposed as GRAS by the Food Drug Association (FDA) Centre for Food Safety and Nutrition.
- In the study, 10g collagen hydrolysate daily in osteoarthritis patients:
- Has higher mean levels of hydroxyproline which stimulates the synthesis of collagen in joint and cartilage.
- Administration of these metabolic substrates may stimulate chondrocytes to synthesize collagenous matrix so to provide symptomatic improvement in osteoarthritis. 10g of these collagen can reduce pain in osteoarthritis.
- It was also showed that there’s a 20-40% improvement in pain with the WOMAC physical function dimension score and WOMAC stiffness dimension scale.
- Collagen hydrolysate was also found to be safe and well tolerated in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
- The metabolism of proline as a component of collagen enhanced cartilage localization, hence stimulates production of collagen matrix. This effect is further supported by the preferential uptake of these hydroxyproline by cartilage which was found in this study.
- 10g of collagen hydrolysate in osteoporosis patients (post-menopausal women >40 years old) showed a greater effect in inhibiting bone collagen breakdown when combine with calcitonin compared to calcitonin alone.
These research findings have showed the benefits of collagen hydrolysate in the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.