Scholarlink

Objective <p>Whey protein (WP) and collagen peptides may exert complementary effects on musculoskeletal tissues, yet their combined efficacy in resistance-trained individuals remains insufficiently investigated. This study examined whether combined whey protein plus collagen supplementation (WP + C) would produce greater improvements in muscle mass, bone mineral density (BMD), strength, and bone turnover markers than isolated whey protein, collagen, or placebo.</p> Methods <p>In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 52 men were screened and 40 resistance-trained men were enrolled and randomly allocated to one of four groups: WP + C (30&#xa0;g/day whey protein + 10&#xa0;g/day collagen), WP (30&#xa0;g/day whey protein), C (10&#xa0;g/day collagen), or placebo (10&#xa0;g/day maltodextrin). All participants completed an 8-week supervised resistance training program (3 sessions/week). The primary outcome was muscle mass assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Secondary outcomes included lumbar spine BMD assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, 1-repetition maximum (1RM) squat and bench press strength, and bone turnover biomarkers (P1NP and CTX-I). Pre-to-post change scores were calculated and analyzed using one-way ANOVA or non-parametric alternatives, as appropriate, with post hoc testing for between-group comparisons. In addition, a two-way mixed-design ANOVA with Group as the between-subject factor and Time as the within-subject factor was conducted as a sensitivity analysis to verify the robustness of the change-score approach.</p> Results <p>All 40 participants completed the intervention. The WP + C group demonstrated the largest increase in muscle mass (Δ = 2.66 ± 0.25&#xa0;kg), followed by WP (Δ = 1.59 ± 0.18&#xa0;kg), C (Δ = 0.46 ± 0.13&#xa0;kg), and placebo (Δ = 0.10 ± 0.12&#xa0;kg), with significant between-group differences (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Lumbar spine BMD increased significantly in the WP + C group (Δ = 0.108 ± 0.027&#xa0;g/cm²) and in the C group (Δ = 0.023 ± 0.018&#xa0;g/cm²), whereas no significant changes were observed in the WP or placebo groups; between-group differences were significant (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Strength outcomes showed a similar pattern, with the greatest improvements in the WP + C group for both squat (Δ = 15.22 ± 1.04&#xa0;kg) and bench press (Δ = 10.63 ± 1.25&#xa0;kg), followed by WP and C, while placebo showed minimal change. Bone turnover markers also favored WP + C, with marked increases in P1NP and reductions in CTX-I, whereas C produced smaller but significant improvements and WP and placebo showed no meaningful changes.</p> Conclusions <p>Combined whey protein and collagen supplementation produced superior improvements in muscle mass, lumbar spine BMD, maximal strength, and bone turnover profile compared with isolated whey protein, collagen, or placebo in resistance-trained men. These findings support the concept that whey protein’s anabolic effects and collagen’s connective tissue- and bone-related actions may provide complementary benefits for musculoskeletal adaptation. Further studies with longer follow-up and more diverse populations are needed to confirm these findings and clarify their generalizability.</p> Clinical trials <p>This clinical trial (NCT07171411) was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on September 6, 2025.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

The combined effects of whey protein and collagen supplementation on bone mineral density and muscle mass in resistance-trained men: a randomized controlled trial

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月9日

查看全文
  • Sinan Seyhan,
  • Morteza Jourkesh,
  • Alireza Salatin,
  • Gorkem Acar,
  • Muhammed Fatih Bilici,
  • Fatma Gozlukaya Girginer,
  • Omer Faruk Bilici,
  • Caglar Soylu

摘要

Objective

Whey protein (WP) and collagen peptides may exert complementary effects on musculoskeletal tissues, yet their combined efficacy in resistance-trained individuals remains insufficiently investigated. This study examined whether combined whey protein plus collagen supplementation (WP + C) would produce greater improvements in muscle mass, bone mineral density (BMD), strength, and bone turnover markers than isolated whey protein, collagen, or placebo.

Methods

In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 52 men were screened and 40 resistance-trained men were enrolled and randomly allocated to one of four groups: WP + C (30 g/day whey protein + 10 g/day collagen), WP (30 g/day whey protein), C (10 g/day collagen), or placebo (10 g/day maltodextrin). All participants completed an 8-week supervised resistance training program (3 sessions/week). The primary outcome was muscle mass assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Secondary outcomes included lumbar spine BMD assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, 1-repetition maximum (1RM) squat and bench press strength, and bone turnover biomarkers (P1NP and CTX-I). Pre-to-post change scores were calculated and analyzed using one-way ANOVA or non-parametric alternatives, as appropriate, with post hoc testing for between-group comparisons. In addition, a two-way mixed-design ANOVA with Group as the between-subject factor and Time as the within-subject factor was conducted as a sensitivity analysis to verify the robustness of the change-score approach.

Results

All 40 participants completed the intervention. The WP + C group demonstrated the largest increase in muscle mass (Δ = 2.66 ± 0.25 kg), followed by WP (Δ = 1.59 ± 0.18 kg), C (Δ = 0.46 ± 0.13 kg), and placebo (Δ = 0.10 ± 0.12 kg), with significant between-group differences (p < 0.001). Lumbar spine BMD increased significantly in the WP + C group (Δ = 0.108 ± 0.027 g/cm²) and in the C group (Δ = 0.023 ± 0.018 g/cm²), whereas no significant changes were observed in the WP or placebo groups; between-group differences were significant (p < 0.001). Strength outcomes showed a similar pattern, with the greatest improvements in the WP + C group for both squat (Δ = 15.22 ± 1.04 kg) and bench press (Δ = 10.63 ± 1.25 kg), followed by WP and C, while placebo showed minimal change. Bone turnover markers also favored WP + C, with marked increases in P1NP and reductions in CTX-I, whereas C produced smaller but significant improvements and WP and placebo showed no meaningful changes.

Conclusions

Combined whey protein and collagen supplementation produced superior improvements in muscle mass, lumbar spine BMD, maximal strength, and bone turnover profile compared with isolated whey protein, collagen, or placebo in resistance-trained men. These findings support the concept that whey protein’s anabolic effects and collagen’s connective tissue- and bone-related actions may provide complementary benefits for musculoskeletal adaptation. Further studies with longer follow-up and more diverse populations are needed to confirm these findings and clarify their generalizability.

Clinical trials

This clinical trial (NCT07171411) was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on September 6, 2025.