A Randomized Trial of Collagen Peptides Combined with Resistance Training for Pain and Cartilage Turnover in Knee Osteoarthritis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/p482kk34Keywords:
Knee osteoarthritis; collagen peptides; resistance training; pain; cartilage turnover; serum biomarkers.Abstract
Background: Knee osteoarthritis causes chronic pain and functional limitation, and while resistance training improves symptoms, its influence on cartilage metabolism is uncertain. Collagen peptide supplementation may support connective tissue health, but evidence for combined use with exercise remains limited. Objective: To determine whether collagen peptide supplementation combined with supervised resistance training improves pain and serum biomarkers of cartilage metabolism compared with resistance training alone in adults with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. Methods: In this 12-week parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted in South Punjab, 120 participants were randomized (1:1) to collagen peptides plus resistance training or resistance training alone. Pain intensity was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using a knee-specific pain rating scale. Serum biomarkers representing cartilage degradation and synthesis were assessed at baseline and follow-up and expressed as percentage change. Between-group differences were evaluated using independent sample tests, with effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals reported. Results: Of 120 randomized participants, 114 completed follow-up. Pain decreased in both groups, with greater improvement in the combined group (12-week pain: 3.2 ± 0.9 vs 4.5 ± 1.0; mean difference −1.30, 95% CI −1.64 to −0.96; p < 0.001). Cartilage degradation biomarkers decreased more in the combined group (−22.4 ± 6.8% vs −10.1 ± 5.9%; p < 0.001), and synthesis biomarkers increased more (+18.6 ± 5.2% vs +7.9 ± 4.8%; p < 0.001). No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Collagen peptides combined with resistance training produced superior short-term improvements in pain and cartilage turnover biomarkers compared with resistance training alone.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Tooba Khanum, Humera Usman, Syeda Amnah Gillani, Sher Dil Khan, Alize Shahbaz, Abeera Adnan Butt (Author)
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