Bioactive Collagen Peptides and Fibroblast-Mediated Matrix Regeneration: From Peptide Absorption to Tissue Remodeling
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Collagen peptides have emerged as bioactive nutritional compounds capable of influencing cellular signaling and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. While classical studies (2003–2017) established the absorption of Pro-Hyp and Hyp-Gly di-/tripeptides and their stimulatory effects on fibroblasts, recent evidence (2020–2024) has expanded this model with clinically relevant outcomes across aging, sports recovery, joint health, and dermal regeneration. Following oral ingestion, hydrolyzed collagen undergoes enzymatic digestion, producing low–molecular-weight peptides that are transported across the intestinal barrier via PEPT1. These fragments accumulate in connective tissues, modulate TGF-β/SMAD and MAPK signaling pathways, and enhance COL1A1/COL3A1 transcription while reducing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Modern randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses confirm improvements in skin elasticity, tendon remodeling, pain reduction, and functional performance in elderly and athletic populations. This review integrates molecular mechanisms with human clinical evidence and critically evaluates the limitations of current research, including methodological heterogeneity and dosage inconsistency. Understanding the collagen–fibroblast–ECM axis offers translational insights for regenerative medicine, lifestyle interventions, and musculoskeletal health, and this overview builds on these mechanisms by translating them into everyday recreational practice, providing a practical guide for specialists in recreation and lifestyle medicine.
Downloads
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Carrillo-Norte, J. A., Gervasini-Rodríguez, G., Santiago-Triviño, M. Á., García-López, V., & Guerrero-Bonmatty, R. (2024). Oral administration of hydrolyzed collagen alleviates pain and enhances functionality in knee osteoarthritis: Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 43, 101424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2024.101424
Clark, K. L., Sebastianelli, W., Flechsenhar, K. R., Aukermann, D. F., Meza, F., Millard, R. L., Deitch, J. R., Sherbondy, P. S., & Albert, A. (2008). 24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 24(5), 1485–1496. https://doi.org/10.1185/030079908X291967
Daneault, A., Prawitt, J., Fabien-Soulé, V., Coxam, V., & Wittrant, Y. (2017). Biological effect of hydrolyzed collagen on bone metabolism. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 57(9), 1922–1937. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2015.1038377
Dressler, P., Gehring, D., Zdzieblik, D., Oesser, S., Gollhofer, A., & König, D. (2018). Improvement of functional ankle properties following supplementation with specific collagen peptides in athletes with chronic ankle instability. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 17, 298–304. https://www.jssm.org
Iwai, K., Hasegawa, T., Taguchi, Y., Morimatsu, F., Sato, K., Nakamura, Y., Higashi, A., Kido, Y., Nakabo, Y., & Ohtsuki, K. (2005). Identification of food-derived collagen peptides in human blood after oral ingestion of gelatin hydrolysates. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 53(16), 6531–6536. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf050206p
König, D., Oesser, S., Scharla, S., Zdzieblik, D., & Gollhofer, A. (2018). Specific collagen peptides improve bone mineral density and bone markers in postmenopausal women–A randomized controlled study. Nutrients, 10(1), 97. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10010097
Ghosh, K., & Ingber, D. E. (2007). Micromechanical control of cell and tissue development: implications for tissue engineering. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 59(13), 1306–1318.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2007.08.014
Shigemura, Y., Iwai, K., Morimatsu, F., Iwamoto, T., Mori, T., Oda, C., Taira, T., Park, E. Y., Nakamura, Y., & Sato, K. (2009). Effect of Prolyl-hydroxyproline (Pro-Hyp), a food-derived collagen peptide in human blood, on growth of fibroblasts from mouse skin. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 57(2), 444–449. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf802785h
Ohara, H., Matsumoto, H., Ito, K., Iwai, K., & Sato, K. (2007). Comparison of quantity and structures of hydroxyproline-containing peptides in human blood after oral ingestion of gelatin hydrolysates from different sources. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 55(4), 1532–1535. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf062834s
Oesser, S., & Seifert, J. (2003). Stimulation of type II collagen biosynthesis and secretion in bovine chondrocytes by collagen hydrolysate. Cell and Tissue Research, 311(3), 393–399. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-003-0702-8
Praet, S. F. E., Purdam, C. R., Welvaert, M., Vlahovich, N., Lovell, G., Burke, L. M., … Waddington, G. (2019). Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides combined with calf-strengthening exercises enhances function and reduces pain in Achilles tendinopathy patients. Nutrients, 11(1), 76. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010076
Proksch, E., Schunck, M., Zague, V., Segger, D., Degwert, J., & Oesser, S. (2014). Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 27(3), 113–119. https://doi.org/10.1159/000351376
Shaw, G., Lee-Barthel, A., Ross, M. L., Wang, B., & Baar, K. (2017). Vitamin C–enriched gelatin supplementation before intermittent activity augments collagen synthesis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 105(1), 136–143. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.116.138594
Zdzieblik, D., Oesser, S., Gollhofer, A., & König, D. (2017). Improvement of activity-related knee joint discomfort following supplementation of specific collagen peptides. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 40(6), 588–595. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2016-0390
Zdzieblik, D., Jendricke, P., Oesser, S., Gollhofer, A., & König, D. (2021). The influence of specific bioactive collagen peptides on body composition and muscle strength in middle-aged, untrained men: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), 4837. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094837