Collagen is a protein found in skin, hair, nails, tendons, cartilage and bones. Our bodies naturally produce collagen using the foods we eat. But in recent years, collagen peptides have gained popularity as a supplement to support joint, hair, skin and gut health.
A new study led by Jennifer Fields, assistant professor of nutritional sciences in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), provides evidence supporting yet another application for collagen peptides—protecting female runners' bones. The study was published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Bone health is a significant concern for endurance runners because, by the nature of their sport, they consistently put significant strain on their bones.
By putting stress on the bones, running activates osteoclasts to break down damaged bone. If a runner is intentionally or not consuming enough calories, the osteoblasts that create new bone don't have the fuel they need to rebuild the bone properly. This can lead to injury and long-term conditions like osteoporosis.
"Oftentimes, we associate running with being bad for us, bad for our bones, because runners are at a higher risk of stress-related injuries," Fields says. "But oftentimes, it's due to just simply underfueling and not giving your body enough calories to support training and recovery and adaptation."
