Effect of Collagen Tripeptide on Atherosclerosis in Healthy Humans

AIM Collagen tripeptide (CTP) is a functional food with a high content of Gly-X-Y tripeptides derived from collagen. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of CTP administration on the development of atherosclerosis in healthy individuals. METHODS The present study was conducted in the form of an open-label, single-dose trial for 6 months. All subjects ingested CTP twice daily: at breakfast and supper (total intake per day: 16 g). The effect of CTP on atherosclerosis was verified by measuring several indices, including serum lipid levels, toxic advanced glycation end-products (TAGE), and the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), at baseline and 6 months. RESULTS The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (LDL-C/HDL-C ratio) was significantly reduced in patients with an initial ratio of ≥2.5 (p=0.025). A significant reduction in TAGE was observed in all the subjects (p=0.031) and in the high-risk group (p=0.024). A significant reduction in CAVI was observed in all the subjects (right side: p=0.048, left side: p=0.047). As a result of multiple regression analysis, a significant relationship between the change in CAVI and that in each factor was not observed. No adverse events were observed during the study period. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study indicate that CTP contributes to the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis in healthy humans (UMIN000018525).