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Specific collagen peptides supplementation increases collagen type I content in skeletal muscle after 12 weeks of high-load resistance training: a randomized controlled trial

Simon Jerger, Jakob Lindberg Nielsen, Christoph Centner, Jonas Mathiesen, Charlotte Suetta, Steffen Oesser, Albert Gollhofer, Per Aagaard, Daniel König
Frontiers in Physiology 2026 17:1839695

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 42376607
PubMed Central
PMC13310693
DOI
10.3389/fphys.2026.1839695
Funding
Part of the study costs were supported by Gelita AG. The article states the funder was not involved in study design, collection, analysis, interpretation, writing, or publication decision.
Competing interests
Steffen Oesser reported honoraria for speaking on collagen peptides and is co-inventor of patents related to collagen peptide supplementation; other authors declared no relevant commercial or financial relationships.

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 12-week high-load resistance training
ModelHealthy, moderately active young men completing structured high-load resistance training
Sample29
Intervention15 g/day BODYBALANCE® specific collagen peptides (Gelita AG) versus volume-matched silicon-dioxide placebo, combined with 12 weeks of high-load resistance training (70–85% 1RM).
Duration12 weeks
EndpointsVastus lateralis collagen type I content; Collagen type III content; Collagen type IV content; Intramuscular fibroblast density

What the study showed, in plain terms

In 29 healthy men performing 12 weeks of heavy resistance training, 15 g/day of a specific collagen peptide product increased intramuscular type I collagen more than placebo. The study measured connective-tissue structure inside muscle, not muscle hypertrophy or clinical recovery.

Key findings

Type I collagen content increased 29.8% with collagen peptides versus 9.9% with placebo, with a significant group-by-time interaction (p=0.026). Types III and IV increased over time across the pooled sample without a significant supplement-specific interaction; fibroblast density did not change.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Small male-only sample; the intervention was a specific branded peptide preparation; part of the study costs were funded by Gelita; the primary outcome was intramuscular collagen content rather than patient-important outcomes such as strength, injury prevention, or function.

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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