Tier 2 — strong

The Effect of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides on Tendon Remodeling during 15 wk of Lower Body Resistance Training

Thomas G Balshaw, Mark P Funnell, Emmet J McDermott, Thomas M Maden-Wilkinson, Garry J Massey, Sean Abela, Btool Quteishat, Max Edsey, Lewis J James, Jonathan P Folland
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 2023 55(11):2083–2095

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 37436929
DOI
10.1249/MSS.0000000000003242
Funding
No funding statement for this specific 2023 tendon-remodeling paper was located in the accessible publisher/repository metadata reviewed on 2026-09-23; do not infer funding from related studies by the same group.
Competing interests
No conflict-of-interest statement for this specific 2023 tendon-remodeling paper was located in the accessible publisher/repository metadata reviewed on 2026-09-23; do not infer disclosures from related studies by the same group.

Study snapshot

DesignDouble-blind placebo-controlled randomized lower-body resistance training study
ModelYoung recreationally active men
Sample39 healthy young active men; collagen 19, placebo 20
Intervention15 g specific collagen peptides daily or placebo with three training sessions/week
Duration15 weeks
EndpointsPatellar tendon CSA and stiffness; Aponeurosis size; Leg strength; Muscle thickness

What the study showed, in plain terms

In a relatively rigorous 15-week controlled training study, 15 g/day collagen did not improve tendon size, stiffness, aponeurosis size or strength beyond exercise with placebo.

Key findings

No group-by-time differences in measured tendon adaptations (reported P range 0.365–0.877); training alone improved both groups.

What this study can and cannot tell us

One selected proprietary peptide preparation, young male sample and specific program; negative result prevents a universal tendon-benefit claim but does not negate all collagen/training trials.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology