Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease*,**,***

https://doi.org/10.1053/sarh.2000.9622Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives: To review the current status of collagen hydrolysate in the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Methods: Review of past and current literature relative to collagen hydrolysate metabolism, and assessment of clinical investigations of therapeutic trials in osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Results: Hydrolyzed gelatin products have long been used in pharmaceuticals and foods; these products are generally recognized as safe food products by regulatory agencies. Pharmaceutical-grade collagen hydrolysate (PCH) is obtained by hydrolysis of pharmaceutical gelatin. Clinical studies suggest that the ingestion of 10 g PCH daily reduces pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip; blood concentration of hydroxyproline is increased. Clinical use is associated with minimal adverse effects, mainly gastrointestinal, characterized by fullness or unpleasant taste. In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial performed in clinics in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, results showed no statistically significant differences for the total study group (all sites) for differences of mean pain score for pain. There was, however, a significant treatment advantage of PCH over placebo in German sites. In addition, increased efficacy for PCH as compared to placebo was observed in the overall study population amongst patients with more severe symptomatology at study onset. Preferential accumulation of 14C-labeled gelatin hydrolysate in cartilage as compared with administration of 14C-labeled proline has been reported. This preferential uptake by cartilage suggests that PCH may have a salutary effect on cartilage metabolism. Given the important role for collagen in bone structure, the effect of PCH on bone metabolism in osteoporotic persons has been evaluated. Studies of the effects of calcitonin with and without a collagen hydrolysate-rich diet suggested that calcitonin plus PCH had a greater effect in inhibiting bone collagen breakdown than calcitonin alone, as characterized by a fall in levels of urinary pyridinoline cross-links. PCH appeared to have an additive effect relative to use of calcitonin alone. Conclusions: Collagen hydrolysate is of interest as a therapeutic agent of potential utility in the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Its high level of safety makes it attractive as an agent for long-term use in these chronic disorders. Semin Arthritis Rheum 30:87-99. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company

References (35)

  • G Crolle et al.

    Glucosamine sulfate for the management of arthrosis: a controlled clinical investigation

    Curr Med Res Opin

    (1980)
  • AM Fleish et al.

    A one-year randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study with oral chondroitin sulfate in patients with knee osteoarthritis

    Osteoarthritis Cartilage (Supplement A)

    (1997)
  • JB Houpt et al.

    Effect of glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of pain of osteoarthritis of the knee

    J Rheumatol

    (1999)
  • TE McAlindon et al.

    Glucosamine and chondroitin treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip: Meta-analysis and quality assessment of clinical trials

    Arthritis Rheum

    (1998)
  • JM Pujalte et al.

    Double-blind clinical evaluation or oral glucosamine sulfate in the basic treatment of osteoarthritis

    Curr Med Res Opin

    (1980)
  • TE Towheed

    Glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis: a systematic review

    Arthritis Rheum

    (1998)
  • M Adam

    Therapie Der Osteoarthrose—Welche Wirkung Haben Gelantineparaprate?

    Therapiewoche

    (1991)
  • Cited by (251)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    *

    Roland W. Moskowitz, MD: Professor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University; Director, Division of Rheumatic Diseases, University Hospitals of Cleveland

    **

    Dr. Moskowitz was the Principal Investigator and Consultant for a study on pharmaceutical collagen hydrolysate for DGF Stoess.

    ***

    Address reprint requests to Roland W. Moskowitz, MD, University Hospitals, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106.

    View full text