Meta-analysis supports joint health potential of collagen
Data from randomized placebo-controlled trials of collagen showed that supplements showed a significant reduction in the score of total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), compared to placebo.
Additional analysis of WOMAC subscores indicated that collagen supplementation was associated with significant decreases in stiffness, compared to placebo.
On the other hand, no significant impacts were found for pain or functional limitation, wrotesScientists from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Monterrey and the Mexican Social Security Institute in Durango in the journal International Orthopaedics.
Collagen supplementation was also associated with significant reductions in scores on the visual analog scale (VAS), they wrote.
“The results of this meta-analysis showed that collagen is effective in improving [osteoarthritis] symptoms by the decrease of both total WOMAC index and VAS score,” they concluded.
Joint health support
The joint health segment is dominated by combination products containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, driven by positive data from big studies like GAIT and demand from aging consumers to naturally support their joints. (Pharmaceutical solutions include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but these have been linked with gastrointestinal toxicity, increased blood pressure, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.)
According to a 2011 paper in the Journal of Rheumatology (Peláez-Ballestas, et al), the prevalence of osteoarthritis in Mexican adults across five different regions was 10.5%.
Source: International Orthopaedics
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1007/s00264-018-4211-5
“Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials”
Authors: J.M. García-Coronado et al.
