A double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trialfound that specific collagen peptides (SCP) (TENDOFORTE®) combined with calf-strengthening exercises improved symptoms and tendon vascularization in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.

The trial randomized 20 patients to a test group and a placebo group. The test group received 2.5g of SCP; the placebo group received the same amount of a placebo product. All members were instructed to perform the calf-strengthening program twice per day, and were allowed to take up running as pain decreased. After 3 months, the groups were switched.

All participants were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

The results found that SCPs may accelerate the clinical benefits of a well-structured exercise program in patients with Achilles tendinopathy symptoms. The researchers also found that both of their clinical outcome variables improved during the SCP supplementation period, regardless of randomization order.

The researchers noted that this was a small-scale trial, although it does warrant a larger one, and that there were far fewer women than men involved.