Ingredients Nutritional
Ingredients Nutritional Support for Sports Injury Prevention Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP®) can support the musculoskeletal system from within Being physically active has a number of health benefits: Aerobic exercise such as running, cycling or swimming is good for the cardiovascular system, while resistance training helps build muscle mass and tone the body. However, despite such advantages, the risk of injury is inevitable. In addition to proper technique and adequate recovery time, targeted supplementation can provide extra support for the musculoskeletal system, which is largely composed of the structural protein collagen. To support the stability of the different parts of this system, GELITA, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of collagen peptides, has developed an extensive portfolio of specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP®). Extraordinary structure The musculoskeletal system is divided into two parts: active and passive. While the active part of the system (skeletal muscles, fasciae and tendons) is responsible for movement, the passive part (bones, cartilage, joints and ligaments) supports the skeletal muscles and helps to form the structure of the body. A strong musculoskeletal system is therefore a good basis for preventing sports injuries. Collagen makes up 30 per cent of the total protein mass in the human body, making it the most abundant protein in the musculoskeletal system. It helps to keep ligaments and tendons flexible and strong, and is essential for the proper functioning of joints. It is also a key component of bones, making up 95 per cent of the human body’s bone matrix; as such, it is essential for bone health, helping to prevent brittleness and fractures. Supplementing the diet with BCP® therefore helps to promote health of the whole musculoskeletal system and can reduce the risk of injuries, as proven by a number of clinical studies. Strong bones for a strong foundation GELITA has developed the specific FORTIBONE® collagen peptides Exercise is essential for health and wellbeing, but it is also important to be aware of sports injuries and how best to prevent them. which are optimised to improve overall bone health, with their beneficial effects confirmed by numerous studies. An observational study investigated the effect of FORTIBONE® on bone fracture healing. The study involved 28 participants with bone fractures, including men and women between the ages of 17 and 87. They were randomised into two groups: The verum group supplemented with 10g of FORTIBONE®, while the placebo group was given 10g of maltodextrin. At the end of the observation period, 79 per cent of the participants taking the BCP®, but only 50 per cent of the placebo group, had very good or good bone fracture healing. [1] Researchers investigated the effect of FORTIBONE® on bone mineral density in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 2018 in women with low bone mineral density at the spine and femoral neck for 12 months. The study included 131 women aged 46- 80 who supplemented with either 5g of FORTIBONE® (intervention group) or maltodextrin (placebo group) daily. The results showed that bone density increased significantly after taking FORTIBONE®, while it decreased in the placebo group. The bone mineral density increased by 4.2 per cent in the spine and by 7.7 per cent in the femoral neck. [2] copyright_Kzenon_Fotolia Martin Walter, Category Manager Healthy Ageing and Sports Nutrition at GELITA, explains the mode of action behind these results: “Our research indicates a clear stimulating effect on bone-building cells known as osteoblasts. This anabolic effect can increase collagen synthesis and support the development of a stable bone structure, which is essential in endurance sports such as longdistance running and cycling, where micro-fractures can occur.” 20 food Marketing & Technology • August 2023
Ingredients Keeping joints flexible Pushing the body to its physical limits during exercise will, over time, probably have a negative impact on joint health. As collagen is an essential component of healthy joint cartilage, GELITA developed FORTIGEL® twenty years ago. These specific collagen peptides are optimised and scientifically proven to stimulate joint cartilage regeneration and the production of collagen and proteoglycans, the two main components of cartilage dry mass. It also combats the progressive degeneration of cartilage tissue. FORTIGEL® has been the subject of 20 studies involving around 2,800 participants [3, 4] , all of which confirm its stimulating effect on the biosynthesis of the extracellular cartilage matrix. This means that these BCP® address not only the symptoms, but also the cause of joint problems thus reducing pain and improving mobility. “Due to its strong scientific background, FORTIGEL® is commercially successful in almost 50 countries and allows for the use With TENDOFORTE®, AIS study participants with Achilles tendinopathy were able to return to training after just 3 months. of certain health claims too. Health Canada has approved a productspecific claim for FORTIGEL® and the Brazilian National Health Agency (ANVISA) also recently granted health claim approval. These milestones are truly a tribute to our work,” continues Martin Walter. copyright_GELITA fmt food Marketing & Technology • August 2023 21 Key No. 105693
