Collagen Peptide Supplements Boost Tendon Adaptation During 14 Weeks of Strength Training

In a 14-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 50 healthy men who took 5g of specific collagen peptides daily alongside resistance training showed significantly greater improvements in patellar tendon structural properties compared to placebo. The study also assessed tendon stiffness, maximal voluntary knee extension strength, and rectus femoris muscle cross-sectional area. The collagen peptide supplementation led to significantly greater patellar tendon morphological adaptations beyond what resistance training alone achieved.

Randomized, placebo-controlled trial registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00029244). Fifty healthy, moderately active male participants completed a 14-week resistance training program with three weekly sessions at 70-85% of 1 repetition maximum for the knee extensors. The supplementation group received 5g of specific collagen peptides daily; the control group received an identical-looking placebo. Outcome measures included patellar tendon structural properties (morphology), tendon stiffness, maximal voluntary knee extension strength, and rectus femoris cross-sectional area.

Tendons adapt to training much more slowly than muscles, creating an imbalance that increases injury risk during strength training programs. If collagen peptides can accelerate tendon adaptation, they could help athletes and patients undergoing rehabilitation strengthen their tendons alongside their muscles — potentially reducing overuse injury risk and improving training outcomes.

This study adds to growing evidence that collagen peptide supplementation can enhance connective tissue adaptation to exercise. While most collagen supplement research has focused on skin or joint pain, this trial specifically targets tendon structure — a critical tissue for athletic performance and injury prevention. The finding that collagen peptides can accelerate tendon remodeling during training has significant implications for sports medicine, rehabilitation after tendon injury, and exercise programming for aging populations whose tendons adapt even more slowly.

The abstract text appears truncated, preventing full assessment of specific outcome values and statistical significance levels. The study included only healthy, moderately active males, limiting generalizability to women, older adults, and clinical populations. The 14-week duration may not capture long-term tendon remodeling. The multi-component supplement intervention (specific collagen peptides) doesn't identify which peptide fractions drive the effect.