- A study conducted by Spanish researchers analyzed how effective collagen is as a weight loss aid.
- The study followed two groups for 12 weeks; one group received collagen-based protein bars, and the other did not.
- The group that received the collagen supplement lost twice as much weight as the control group.
More than 70% of adultsTrusted Source in the U.S. are either overweight or have obesity. As this number continues to climb, scientists are interested in finding ways to help people lose weight.
There are many popular weight loss options, such as GLP-1 drugs, but these can be cost-prohibitive for many people.
With that in mind, researchers in the new study took a closer look at the supplement collagen. Since collagen is relatively inexpensive, the researchers wondered how people who used a collagen supplement for a 12-week period would do compared to a control group.
The results showed promise for the future of using collagen supplements as a weight-loss aid, the collagen group saw a greater improvement across multiple health metrics.
Eating 20 grams of collagen daily
Collagen is a protein found in the connective tissue of both humans and animals. Collagen supplements are often derived from cows or pigs and are widely available in pill and powder form.
Collagen has many benefits and can be helpful for improving joint health and building muscle mass. It is also beneficial for improving skin elasticity.
The supplement is gaining attention as a potential weight loss tool, and researchers in the present study wanted to see how adding a collagen supplement to one’s diet could affect weight loss.
The researchers recruited 64 adults for their study, whose BMI levels ranged from being overweight to class 1 obesity.
The participants followed a healthy diet similar to the Mediterranean diet, which focuses on whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and fish and poultry.
The test group (32 people) received a protein bar to eat in addition to their meals twice per day. The 90-calorie protein bars had 10 grams of bovine-based collagen.
The control group did not receive a placebo bar and only focused on following the dietary recommendations.
The control group consumed around 2000 calories per day while the control group consumed slightly more because of the protein bars.
The participants went to several screening appointments to provide their weight, blood pressure, blood samples, and urine and fecal samples. They also completed questionnaires about their food intake and appetite
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