Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of dietary intake of commercial hydrolyzed collagen (Gelatine Royal^®) on bone remodeling in pre-pubertal children.

Methods: A randomized double-blind study was carried out in 60 children (9.42±1.31 years) divided into three groups according to the amount of partially hydrolyzed collagen taken daily for 4 months: placebo (G-I, n=18), collagen (G-II, n=20) and collagen+calcium (G-III, n=22) groups. Analyses of the following biochemical markers were carried out: total and bone alkaline phosphatase (tALP and bALP), osteocalcin, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide, lipids, calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxin and intact parathormone.

Results: There was a significantly greater increase in serum IGF-1 in G-III than in G-II (p<0.01) or G-I (p<0.05) during the study period, and a significantly greater increase in plasma tALP in G-III than in G-I (p<0.05). Serum bALP behavior significantly (p<0.05) differed between G-II (increase) and G-I (decrease). Plasma TRAP behavior significantly differed between G-II and G-I (p<0.01) and between G-III and G-II (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Daily dietary intake of hydrolyzed collagen seems to have a potential role in enhancing bone remodeling at key stages of growth and development.