The efficacy and safety of low-molecular-weight collagen peptides for joint pain in patients with osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Collagen is the main component of the articular cartilage. Collagen disruption is suggested to be an underlying cause of knee pain in osteoarthritis (OA). However, clinical guidelines and standard treatment methods for OA knee pain remain controversial. We investigated whether low-molecular-weight collagen peptide (LMWCP) can reduce the knee pain in patients with OA. A total of 78 patients were randomly assigned to the test (LMWCP 4 g/day) and placebo groups at a 1:1 ratio and treated for 12 weeks. At 6 or 12 weeks after randomization, pain was assessed using the 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), knee X-ray, and laboratory tests. The group receiving LMWCP 4 g/day for 12 weeks showed a significant decrease in the WOMAC pain score and VAS than the placebo group. These results indicate that LMWCP significantly reduces the knee pain in patients with OA.