Unlocking the Power of Collagen Supplements for Active, Middle-Aged Adults
Middle-aged adults who lead active lifestyles often face the hurdle of dealing with age-related physical performance decline coupled with chronic pain caused by musculoskeletal injuries. Derived from a recent study, it appears there is hope offered by collagen peptide supplementation that can potentially improve both physical and mental health among this demographic.
The Bottom Line: Collagen peptides can provide significant enhancement in the quality of life for active middle-aged adults, mitigating age-related physical declines and associated pain, while supporting an overall healthy mental state.
A Deeper Dive into the Science of Collagen
Tendons or ligaments are frequent sites for injuries leading to an unfortunate cycle of decreased physical activity, increased disability, and reduced daily living quality. This study highlights a powerful tool – collagen peptide supplementation – that can intervene in this cycle. With a daily dosage of 10 grams for six months, middle-aged, physically active participants showed noticeable improvements in physical and mental health. Of note, it is the first-ever study to investigate the benefits of collagen peptides for these specific endpoints.
Independent comments from health experts suggest this discovery opens up a unique perspective on active consumer support, particularly interesting to individuals aged 35 to 65. There’s increasing interest in nutrients for increased muscle performance (like carbohydrates, beta-alanine, creatine) and repair/recovery agents (such as protein, tart-cherry). However, these peptides provide a unique approach to enhancing joint mobility and reducing pain – critical components of a healthy, active lifestyle in middle-aged adults.
During the study, eighty-six lifelong exercisers, both men and women, took either a placebo, 10 grams, or 20 grams of collagen peptides (CP) daily. Using the Knee Injury & Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS) and Veterans Rand 12 (VR-12) for assessments, researchers identified significant improvements with the lower dose group. Notably, benefits were primarily experienced by those individuals who exercised more than 180 minutes weekly. It suggests that regular physical activity enhances the pain-relieving effects of collagen peptide supplements. This improvement could be attributed to the increased blood flow during exercise, enhancing amino acid and bioactive peptide delivery to connective tissue.
Besides mitigating physical pain, a dosage of 10 grams of the peptide also improved mental health scores after six and nine months. Women in the 20-gram supplementation group reported improved physical component scores. Conclusively, researchers discovered that both dosages have their respective improvements on physical functionality, pain, and physical and mental component scores in supplementing individuals. A dosage of 20-grams, however, seems to reduce declines in quality of life over time for more sedentary participants.
Key Takeaways:
- Collagen peptide supplementation offers hope to improve both physical and mental health among active, middle-aged adults.
- A daily collagen peptide dosage of 10 grams shows significant physical and mental improvements after six months. The benefits are more pronounced in those with a weekly exercise regimen exceeding 180 minutes.
- Beyond physical advantages, peptide supplementation positively impacts mental health, suggesting its comprehensive benefit to middle-aged individuals.
- A higher dosage (20 grams) of collagen peptides could potentially safeguard against quality of life decline over time, specifically for more sedentary participants.
Source Article: https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2023/08/18/collagen-peptides-linked-to-mental-physical-benefits-for-active-middle-aged-adults
