A great deal of research into the extent to which collagen supplementation can alleviate issues related to joint health has been underway for several years. In a recent clinical trial, researchers investigated the potential that a specific collagen formulation, hydrolyzed type II chicken collagen, could have in reducing joint-related discomfort, such as pain and stiffness, as well as improving mobility. Arthritis, a condition of which there are 100 types, is estimated to impact at least one in four adults in the U.S., and is characterized by deterioration of cartilage. Collagen, a protein which is the primary component of cartilage, hair, skin, and nails, is believed to attenuate joint health issues when taken in a supplement form that can be absorbed through digestion.  
 
The authors of the study enrolled adults between the ages of 40 and 65 who had complaints of joint discomfort, but no co-morbidities, who were not taking any pain medications, and administered a supplement containing type II collagen, the most prevalent form of it found in the human body. Specifically, the product used was a 2.5 gram dose of Avicenna’s Hydrolyzed Chicken Collagen Type II raw material, a patented collagen formula which uses acid-based hydrolysis which mimics the body’s natural hydrolysis process for ease of digestion and low molecular weight. Participants either supplemented daily with the collagen for eight weeks, or took a matching placebo, with the experimental group containing 47 participants and the placebo group containing 43 participants.
 
In order to address joint pain, participants self-reported their symptoms using the WOMAC questionnaire, which has 24 questions in three joint-related domains. At baseline, the WOMAC scores between the two groups were similar – by week four, the authors of the study observed a 36.9% reduction in WOMAC scores in the collagen group, significantly larger than the 14.3% reduction in the placebo group. By week 8, the experimental group saw a WOMAC score reduction of 48.6%, while the placebo group experienced a decrease of 31%.
 
The improvement to joint discomfort was comparable to that seen in other studies using hydrolyzed type II chicken collagen in a general population which is otherwise healthy, the authors of the study said. Notable to the findings was that the authors said this was potentially the first study of its kind to assess discomfort of the wrist, in addition to joint and hip discomfort. Additionally, the authors noted that this was the first study of its kind on collagen which excluded adults who were using any pain medication.
 
“This distinction is important because NSAIDs, analgesics, or other supplements could confound the effect of HCII on joint function and pain,” the authors of the study wrote. “Previous studies evaluating the effects of hydrolyzed collagen on joint function and pain.”
 
Lastly, the authors of the study noted that the modest dosage of collagen used in the study, at 2.5 g, was significantly smaller than the doses used in studies of other collagen types, such as one study which found clinical significance in joint health domains.
 
“Findings of this study show that AVC-H2 is effective in reducing joint pain and stiffness, and in improving mobility. We also observed that it is a safe nutra-pharmaceutical for use by adults suffering from arthritis and other joint discomfort,” the authors concluded.