Collagen Supplement Improves Knee Function
Lee Swanson Research Update
New research indicates a patented undenatured collagen supplement may improve joint mobility. In a 120-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, researchers evaluated the effects of 40 mg per day of UC-II®, a collagen supplement derived from chicken sternum cartilage, in a group of 55 healthy subjects with no prior history of arthritis who reported experiencing knee pain upon strenuous physical exertion.
After 30 days, subjects taking UC-II had significant improvement in range of motion (knee extension) compared with those taking a placebo, and their range of motion showed continuing improvement after 60, 90 and 120 days. After 120 days, subjects in the UC-II group also were able to exercise longer on a treadmill before experiencing joint discomfort compared to baseline, in contrast with the placebo group, who showed no significant changes. The study authors concluded that “supplementation with 40 mg of UC-II was well tolerated and led to improved knee joint extension in healthy subjects. UC-II also demonstrated the potential to lengthen the period of pain-free strenuous exertion and alleviate the joint pain that occasionally arises from such activities.”
Lugo JP, et al. Undenatured type II collagen (UC-II®) for joint support: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2013, 10:48. Retrieved 20 Dec 2013 from http://www.jissn.com/content/10/1/48