To answer this we first need to understand a bit about collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein within the body, residing in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of several tissues including ligaments. It provides the structure and support to the tissue. Within ligaments, Type 1 collagen predominates, consisting of non-essential amino acids (AAs) including glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine.
Although bone collagen is responsive to feeding in the absence of exercise, collagen in musculoskeletal tissue is non-responsive to feeding in the absence of exercise. Exercise, or more specifically muscle contraction, is necessary to increase the delivery of specific AAs following ingestion.
So how is collagen relevant to tendinopathy ?
Inflammation results in the disorganisation of collagen in the ECM and has been proposed to lead to conditions such as tendinopathy (a painful condition involving the tendon). Glycine, rich within collagen, has been shown to inhibit inflammatory cell activation, and therefore may be able to exert a beneficial effect in inflammatory conditions. The administration of glycine may result in an improvement in the biochemical and biomechanical properties of an inflamed tendon.
Precautions
Despite what many think, the research on collagen is still in its infancy so there is not overwhelming evidence (yet) to support collagens role in tendinopathy. Here’s a few things to keep in mind when deciding whether to supplement or not:
· There is more collagen research in animals & engineered ligaments than humans
· How collagen works in animals and engineered ligaments does not directly transfer to humans
· When humans ingest collagen, the amino acids from collagen won’t necessarily go to the injured ligament
· While there is a suggested protocol for the optimal amount of daily collagen, there is no evidence on optimal duration of supplement protocols e.g. only during acute inflammation, for the entire duration of injury, or ongoing
· There needs to be an appropriate rehab program alongside supplementation
Besides collagen, there are lots of other nutritional factors that play a role in injury prevention and recovery, such as optimising carbohydrate and protein intake, increasing intake of anti-inflammatory nutrients such as Omega-3s and ensuring adequate calcium intake. We will cover each of these in upcoming blogs.
This is Dr Rebecca Haslam, founder & Head Sports Dietitian at Nutrient Nation, signing off for now!
You can find Bec at www.nutrientnation.com.au
Kommentare