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Efficacy of collagen peptide supplementation on bone and muscle health: a meta-analysis

Chongxiao Sun, Ao Yang, Fei Teng, Yayi Xia
Frontiers in Nutrition 2025 12:1646090

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 41049371
PubMed Central
PMC12488437
DOI
10.3389/fnut.2025.1646090
Funding
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China grants 81960403, 82060405 and 82360436; Lanzhou Science and Technology Plan Program 2021-RC-102; Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province grants 22JR5RA943, 22JR5RA956 and 23JRRA1500; and Cuiying Scientific and Technological Innovation Program of Lanzhou University Second Hospital grants CY2021-MS-A07 and CY2022-MS-A19.
Competing interests
The authors declared no commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Study snapshot

DesignMeta-analysis of randomized trials of collagen alone or combined with calcium/vitamin D
ModelHuman participants in clinical bone and muscle trials
Sample20 studies across 10 countries: 17 randomized controlled trials, 1 observational study and 2 experimental/clinical studies.
InterventionCollagen peptides alone or combined with calcium and vitamin D
DurationVaried
EndpointsLumbar and femoral-neck bone mineral density; Bone turnover markers; Muscle performance; Heterogeneity

What the study showed, in plain terms

Pooled studies reported improvements in BMD, bone markers and selected muscle outcomes, but combined nutrient interventions and large heterogeneity prevent attribution to collagen alone.

Key findings

BMD estimates favored supplementation, but reported heterogeneity was large (I² 80.1%); muscle performance pooled SMD 0.60 (95% CI 0.05–1.15).

What this study can and cannot tell us

High bone-outcome heterogeneity and mixing isolated collagen with calcium/vitamin D combinations. Trials do not prove fracture prevention, replace osteoporosis medication or verify transfer to a generic bovine collagen product.

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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