Collagen Peptide May Help Reduce Joint Pain

Peptan, a patented collagen peptide ingredient, may reduce joint pain and improve joint function in patients with knee osteoarthritis, according to a new human study conducted in China.

One-hundred female patients, aged 40 to 70, diagnosed with up to stage 3 arthritis, took part in the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Stage 3 arthritis, deemed “moderate” arthritis, lies just below the top-level, Stage 4 severe arthritis on the severity ranking scale, according to Healthline.com. According to Healthline.com, for people with Stage 3 arthritis, “The cartilage between bones is showing obvious damage, and the space between the bones is narrowing. People with stage 3 [osteoarthritis] of the knee are likely experiencing frequent pain when walking, running, bending, or kneeling. They also may experience joint stiffness after sitting for long periods of time or when waking up in the morning. Joint swelling may be present after extended periods of motion, too.”

In the Peptan study, patients received either 8 g of Peptan or placebo daily for six months. Joint pain was measured by the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index), and improved joint function was evaluated using the Lysholm knee-scoring scale. Patients were evaluated before the study and at three and six months into it.

The Peptan group saw both reduced knee joint pain (reduced WOMAC scores) and improved knee joint function (increased Lysholm scores). These results were better than those of the placebo group.

Peptan’s supplier Rousselot (Son, Netherlands) says the study will publish in April 2014. Peptan also shows promise in the area of sports nutrition and skincare.