Collagen Peptides and Cellular Aging

University of Vienna

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Biological Ageing; Longevity; Healthy Aging

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Collagen peptides; Dietary Supplement: Maltodextrin (Placebo)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07456449

Gelita-AG (Other Identifier)

01400

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if daily collagen peptide supplementation can stabilize or lengthen telomeres and improve related markers of cellular aging in adults aged 50-70 years with overweight and low-to-moderate physical activity (healthy volunteers without major chronic disease).

Main questions it aims to answer are:

Does six months of collagen peptides stabilize or extend telomere length and increase telomerase activity compared with placebo? Are any telomere-related changes associated with lower inflammation, healthier body composition, and better functional health?

Researchers will compare collagen as an intervention to a placebo group to see if collagen will influence aging markers.

Participants will take collagen peptides or a placebo daily for 24 weeks. They will attend three study visits: one before starting the intervention (T0), one at 3 months (T1), and one at 6 months (T2). At each visit, blood samples will be collected to measure telomere length, telomerase activity, and inflammation/redox markers. Participants will also undergo body composition assessments using bioelectrical impedance, complete functional tests of muscle strength and mobility, and fill out questionnaires on health and vitality.

Enrollment: 125 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 50-70 years; both male and female participants are eligible
• Body mass index (BMI) 25-30 kg/m²
• Low to moderate physical activity: not meeting current WHO recommendations (<150 minutes/week) or ≤2 sessions/week structured training
• Able to live independently and mobile in daily life
• No regular resistance training within the past 6 months
• Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosed chronic diseases relevant to the immune system, metabolism, or cellular aging (e.g., diabetes mellitus, cancer, cardiovascular, rheumatologic diseases)
• Use of immunomodulatory, systemic anti-inflammatory, or hormonal medications (e.g., corticosteroids, immunosuppressants)
• Acute infections or surgeries within the last 3 months
• Regular use of supplements known to affect oxidative stress or cellular aging (e.g., high-dose antioxidants, CoQ10, omega-3 fatty acids, high-dose vitamin D)
• Participation in another clinical study within the last 3 months
• Vegetarian or vegan diet (product contains animal-derived collagen)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

---

125 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Collagen Peptides

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive daily oral supplementation with specific collagen peptides for 24 weeks. Allocation is randomized 1:1 and double-blinded against placebo. Study visits occur at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2). Blood samples are collected to assess telomere length (qPCR T/S ratio) and telomerase activity (TRAP), alongside inflammation and redox markers. Body composition (bioelectrical impedance), functional tests (muscle strength, mobility), and questionnaires on health and vitality are also performed. The intervention aims to test whether six months of collagen peptides stabilize or extend telomeres and increase telomerase activity compared with placebo.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Collagen peptides

Maltodextrin

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants receive a daily placebo matched in a double-blind design for 24 weeks, with the same schedule of study visits at T0, T1, and T2 and the same assessments (blood biomarkers of telomere biology, inflammation/redox; body composition; functional tests; questionnaires) as the verum arm. Maltodextrin serves as the control to compare effects against collagen peptides in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Maltodextrin (Placebo)