Bone turnover following high-impact exercise is not modulated by collagen supplementation in young men: A randomized cross-over trial

INTRODUCTION: We assessed whether collagen supplementation augments the effects of high-impact exercise on bone turnover and whether a higher exercise frequency results in a greater benefit for bone metabolism.

METHODS: In this randomized, cross-over trial, 14 healthy males (age 24 ± 4 y, BMI 22.0 ± 2.1 kg/m2) performed 5-min of high-impact exercise once (JUMP+PLA and JUMP+COL) or twice daily (JUMP2 + COL2) during a 3-day intervention period. One hour before every exercise bout participants ingested 20 g hydrolysed collagen (JUMP+COL and JUMP2 + COL2) or a placebo control (JUMP+PLA). Blood markers of bone formation (P1NP) and resorption (CTXI) were assessed in the fasted state before the ingestion of the initial test drinks and 24, 48, and 72 h thereafter. In JUMP+PLA and JUMP+COL, additional blood samples were collected in the postprandial state at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 13 h after ingestion of the test drink.

RESULTS: In the postprandial state, serum P1NP concentrations decreased marginally from 99 ± 37 to 93 ± 33 ng/mL in JUMP+COL, and from 97 ± 32 to 92 ± 31 ng/mL in JUMP+PLA, with P1NP levels having returned to baseline levels after 13 h (time-effect, P = 0.053). No differences in serum P1NP concentrations were observed between JUMP+PLA and JUMP+COL (time x treatment, P = 0.58). Serum CTX-I concentrations showed a ~ 50 % decline (time, P < 0.001) in the postprandial state in COL1 (0.9 ± 0.3 to 0.4 ± 0.2 ng/mL) and PLA (0.9 ± 0.3 to 0.4 ± 0.2 ng/mL), with no differences between treatments (time x treatment, P = 0.17). Fasted serum P1NP concentrations increased ~8 % by daily jumping exercise (time-effect, P < 0.01), with no differences between treatments (time x treatment, P = 0.71). Fasted serum CTX-I concentrations did not change over time (time-effect, P = 0.41) and did not differ between treatments (time x treatment, P = 0.58).

CONCLUSIONS: Five minutes of high-impact exercise performed daily stimulates bone formation, as indicated by an increase in fasted serum P1NP concentrations. Collagen supplementation or an increase in exercise frequency does not further increase serum P1NP concentrations. Bone resorption, as indicated by fasted serum CTX-I concentrations, is not affected by short-duration high-impact exercise, with or without collagen supplementation.