“SHOULD I TAKE COLLAGEN PEPTIDES FOR SPORTS?” DR. ALBERTO SACRISTÁN HAS AN ANSWER 

What do some of the leaders in the field of physical activity and health say about the benefits of taking collagen peptides supplements? Check this recent Spanish podcast with Dr. Alberto Sacristán (@dr_sacristan), a Madrid-based specialist in Family Medicine with a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Food, who teaches, advises official bodies, and founded Sport Salud to offer multidisciplinary care to patients and athletes.

What is collagen? 

‘Collagen is a protein, or more specifically, a glycoprotein,’ explains Dr. Sacristán. ‘Proteins play crucial roles in our bodies: some transport oxygen, while others have a structural function. Collagen is in the latter category, and because of this, it is present throughout our body, in our articular cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones, and skin.’  

What’s the difference between collagen and collagen peptides? 

‘Collagen peptides are derived from natural collagen,’ says Dr. Sacristán. ‘Peptides are smaller clusters of amino acids, which are produced by hydrolyzing collagen. In other words, native collagen is heated until it begins to break down into smaller chains of amino acids. The resulting peptides are easier for our bodies to absorb and use.’  

What are the benefits of collagen peptides?  

‘While I have been recommending collagen peptides for 10 or 15 years at least, recent studies have further confirmed its impact on sports, exercise, and mobility,’ says Dr. Sacristán. ‘For example, one study performed in the UK [Clifford, 2019] gave some participants collagen peptides, and others a placebo before a strenuous workout. Well, after the intense exercise, the group that had taken collagen peptides experienced reduced muscle soreness by 28%, and their recovery was also 13% faster than those who were in the placebo group. Evidence like this continues to indicate collagen peptides’ benefits for sports and mobility.’ 

Collagen peptides are widely recognized for their numerous benefits, which extend to areas such as sports nutrition, mobility, and beauty. In his own practice, Dr. Sacristán has seen collagen peptides’ impact on many of his patients across the years. For his full thoughts on collagen peptides, sports, mobility, and even tips and tricks for sports nutrition and athletics, listen to Sport Life podcast #62; or read more on the Sport Life website.