Effect of collagen peptides on skeletal muscle mass in the elderly: An interventional study examining oral nutrition support for patients in a recovery-phase rehabilitation ward

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to compare the effect of collagen peptides on skeletal muscle mass between patients in a recovery-phase rehabilitation ward who received oral nutrition support intervention with collagen peptides (intervention group) and those who did not (control group). Methods: Subjects were 19 patients ≥65 years old who had been admitted to our recovery-phase rehabilitation ward due to fracture or stroke between June 1 and August 31, 2018. The intervention group received an oral nutrition supplement contain-ing 10 g of collagen peptides. Results: The mean age was 78.3±7.0 years old in the intervention group (3 men and 7 women), and 75.2±5.5 years old in the control group (2 men and 7 women). The fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass, and skeletal muscle mass indices per body surface area increased by 0.55±1.4 kg/m2, 0.29±0.8 kg/m2, and 0.11±0.3 kg/m2, respectively, in the intervention group, and decreased by 1.67±2.2 kg/m2, 0.96±1.3 kg/m2, and 0.31±0.4 kg/m2, respectively, in the control group. The intervention group had significantly higher fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass, and skeletal muscle mass indices than the control group. The daily skeletal muscle mass index (calculated by dividing the skeletal muscle mass index by the days of hospitalization) in the intervention group was 0.002±0.03 kg. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the oral intake of collagen peptides increases the skeletal muscle mass in patients in recovery-phase rehabilitation wards.