Collagen for bodybuilding is a hoax, right? Not so fast. Collagen can support bodybuilders by encouraging muscle growth, boosting muscle strength, and improving exercise recovery. Discover why collagen for bodybuilding is the next big trend to storm the stage.
There are many trendy dietary supplements in the world of bodybuilding that don’t work as well as they claim to. An increasingly common belief holds that collagen for bodybuilding is one of these hoaxes. Collagen is a type of protein, and it makes up a large part of the connective tissue in the human body.
As a dietary supplement, it’s primarily seen as a beauty product, and indeed, it can enhance the appearance of hair, skin, and nails. However, it’s just as beneficial to bodybuilders. In conjunction with regular training, collagen can help increase the size and growth of muscles, improve athletic performance, enhance muscle recovery, and support overall joint health. Depending on how the collagen is formulated, it may also be a preferable source of pre-workout protein to other common types of protein. These are some of the real benefits of collagen for bodybuilding, backed up by empirical research.
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Collagen for bodybuilding:
faster muscle growth
Many bodybuilders swear by creatine for muscle growth. Creatine also occurs naturally in the human body; it serves as a source of muscular energy and can increase the rate of muscle fiber growth. However, collagen can serve as an alternative to, or augment the effects of, supplementary creatine. This is because collagen contains arginine and glycine, precursors to the body’s natural process of creatine synthesis. Therefore, supplementation with collagen can promote the production of creatine, accelerating the rate of muscle growth in much the same way creatine itself does. Collagen supplementation can improve body composition even in people who are only recreationally active; for dedicated bodybuilders, it can have an even more pronounced effect.
Collagen for bodybuilding:
Greater strength and better performance
In addition to supporting muscle growth, collagen may also help improve your day-to-day performance in the gym. In a 2015 study, a group of elderly men experiencing sarcopenia, or age-related muscle deterioration, undertook a 12-week program of collagen supplementation. At the end of the 12-week period, they had a greater power output during exercise than they did at the beginning of the study. Their body composition was also improved by the 12-week period of collagen supplementation. Collagen acts as both dietary protein and creatine precursor, both of which can also improve athletic performance. Supplementary collagen can work on all three fronts to boost your strength and power output during a workout.
Collagen for bodybuilding:
Enhanced muscle recovery
The common expression “no pain, no gain” bears some truth. During exercise, muscles often sustain minor damage. It’s this exercise-induced muscle damage that causes the soreness or “burn” one often feels after a particularly intense workout. That’s not a bad thing, though; during the healing process, muscles can grow back stronger and larger.
In a 2019 study, collagen was found to support the process of muscle healing; athletes who took collagen reported less soreness, and the height of their drop jumps recovered more quickly after strenuous exercise. Like any form of exercise in which one makes incremental improvements, bodybuilders will only see results if they continuously push their limits; collagen can make that pushing far less painful and speed recovery times.
Collagen for bodybuilding:
Improved joint health
Many bodybuilders struggle with joint problems. Tendonitis, an inflammation of the tissue that connects bone and muscle, is one of the most common conditions. Many rely on painkillers to relieve their tendonitis-induced pain, which can be harmful – even addictive – in the long run. Collagen supplementation can support joint health and may reduce the risk of developing tendonitis in the first place. This is likely due to the peptides and amino acids that make up collagen, which may be quickly absorbed by the body and distributed to joint tissues in need. For that reason, collagen is an excellent addition to a bodybuilder’s supplementary regimen, as it may keep their joints in good health and prevent the need for prescription painkillers.
Collagen for bodybuilding:
Better than whey protein
Depending on a collagen product’s chemical makeup, it may have some advantages over more common types of pre-workout protein, like whey, pea, and soy proteins. In a general sense, they all work much the same, improving athletic performance and elevating energy levels. However, a certain type of collagen called hydrolyzed collagen can be absorbed much faster by the body – sometimes in less than 15 minutes.
In the process of hydrolysis, large molecules are partially broken down by water; the body can more readily absorb the resulting smaller molecules. Other sources of pre-workout protein can take up to an hour and a half to digest fully, so in terms of speed, collagen has the advantage.
However, unlike whey protein, collagen is not a complete protein, which means that it does not contain all nine of the essential amino acids the human body cannot produce on its own. High-quality collagen brands like Frog Fuel acknowledge this, fortifying their supplementary collagen products with the missing amino acids. Frog Fuel uses a proprietary method of nano-hydrolysis to guarantee speedy absorption – their product has been empirically tested and can be digested in under 15 minutes.
They use grass-fed medical-grade collagen, and their products come complete and ready to eat in convenient pouches. According to CEO and cofounder Alexander Kunz, “We wanted to come to market with legitimate claims, everything from the absorption aspect to the recovery aspect. Every claim we make is backed by a proven study.” High-quality collagen products like Frog Fuel are no hoax; they’re genuinely effective at what they claim to do.
Collagen for bodybuilding:
A legitimate option
Despite rumors that the benefits of collagen for bodybuilding have been exaggerated, there is ample scientific evidence to prove that collagen works. Just like any other kind of protein, collagen can help increase the rate of muscle growth and healing, improve athletic performance, and provide sustained energy to carry you through a workout. Unlike other common sources, however, collagen takes effect with incredible speed, and can better support the health of joints and tendons; after all, collagen is what they’re made of. Collagen for bodybuilding is anything but a scam; it’s a genuinely effective source of pre-workout protein with a wide variety of benefits.
For further reference:
NIH National Library of Medicine: Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms
NIH National Library of Medicine: Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications
Bodybuilding.com: Collagen: Health Hoax Or Superfood?
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
