Collagen Peptides and Cellular Aging

NCT07456449 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 01400Gelita-AG
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 125
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Longevity; Healthy Aging; Biological Ageing

Keywords

Aging; Collagen; Supplements; Patient Care; Healthspan; Cellular aging

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Telomere length

  Changes in leukocyte telomere length (qPCR) from peripheral blood

  Baseline and after supplementation (24 weeks)

• Telomerase Activity

  Changes telomerase activity measured via TRAP Assay from peripheral blood

  Baseline and at the end of supplemention (24 weeks)

• Change from baseline in DNA-oxidation markers

  Change in DNA Damage measured through comet assay

  Baseline and at the end of supplementation (24 weeks)

• Change from baseline in micronuclei

  Change in Micronulei measured through CBMN-Assay

  Baseline and at the end of supplementation (24 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• Change from baseline in Inflammatory markers

  Baseline and at the end of supplemention (24 weeks)

• Change from baseline in the redox/antioxidant status

  Baseline and at the end of supplementation (24 weeks)

• Change from baseline in body composition

  Basline, after 3 months and at the end of the supplementation (24 weeks)

• Change from baseline metabolic markers

  Baseline and at the end of supplementation (24 weeks)

• Change from baseline in hormonal markers

  Baseline and at the end of supplementation (24 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Collagen Peptides

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Dietary Supplement: Collagen peptides

Maltodextrin

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

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.

Dietary Supplement: Maltodextrin (Placebo)

Interventions

Collagen peptides DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Collagen peptides (oral daily supplementation), taken once daily for 24 weeks in a randomized 1:1, double-blind design; primary outcomes: telomere length (qPCR T/S) and telomerase activity (TRAP), with inflammatory/redox markers as secondary endpoints. Target population: adults 50-70 years with BMI 25-30 and low-to-moderate activity; vegetarians/vegans excluded due to animal-derived collagen. Matched maltodextrin placebo, identical dosing and visit schedule (T0, T1, T2), serving as the comparator to isolate collagen peptide effects in the parallel-group, double-blind trial. Products are approved as foods; prior clinical studies reported no substance-related adverse effects.

Collagen Peptides

Maltodextrin (Placebo) DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo instead of the collagen peptides

Maltodextrin

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Vienna: lead
• CRI Collagen Research Institute GmbH: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Vienna, NuTraLab

Vienna, State of Vienna, 1070, Austria

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

maltodextrin

Central Study Contacts

Daniel König, Univ. Prof. Dr.

CONTACT

+43-1-4277-59130; daniel.koenig@univie.ac.at

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Univ. Professor Dr.

Model Details: Interventional Study Model: Parallel Assignment - randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with two parallel groups (collagen peptides vs. placebo) in a 1:1 allocation

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2026
• First Posted: March 6, 2026
• Study Start: April 22, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2028
• Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

AU (1)