Ask the Doctors: Collagen Peptides Boost Bone Density

Exploring the Benefits of Collagen Peptides for Bone Health

Readers, welcome to another edition of our bonus letters column. We’re thrilled to see your continued engagement and are excited to address some of your pressing questions.

One reader recently asked about collagen peptides, a type of protein that is abundant in collagen, which is essential for skin and bone health. She shared that she has read that collagen supplements can increase bone mineral density and even had a doctor recommend them. Her question was whether there is scientific evidence to support this claim.

Bone health is a critical concern, especially for women who have gone through menopause. Estrogen plays a vital role in maintaining bone density, and its decline during menopause can lead to a loss of bone mineral density. Several small studies have suggested that daily supplementation with collagen peptides may help improve bone mineral density in certain areas, such as the lower spine and upper leg. These studies also found that participants had higher levels of a blood biomarker associated with bone formation. A follow-up study supported these findings. While these results are promising, it’s important to note that the studies were small, and more research is needed to confirm these effects. When used according to the product instructions, collagen peptide supplements are generally well-tolerated. It might be beneficial to follow your doctor’s recommendations if you decide to try them.

Understanding Long COVID and Its Impact

We’ve previously discussed the challenges of long COVID, a condition characterized by a range of symptoms that can persist after an initial infection. These include brain fog, loss of taste or smell, heart arrhythmia, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, digestive issues, poor sleep, and depression. Many readers continue to share their experiences with this condition, including one from Washington.

This reader initially doubted the existence of long COVID until contracting the virus for the third time. Since then, he has experienced almost daily episodes of debilitating fatigue that can last for hours. He asked if we could provide more information about clinical trials mentioned in our previous column so that he and his primary care physician could determine if he might be eligible to participate.

Long COVID remains a significant public health issue, affecting an estimated 20 million people in the United States. If you're interested in participating in clinical trials, you can visit clinicaltrials.gov and search for “long COVID” to find ongoing studies that are still recruiting participants. Your physician may also find it helpful to review the summaries of these studies, which outline various approaches and treatments being explored.

Connecting with Our Readers

We appreciate your continued interest in this column and love hearing from you. As a reminder, we cannot provide medical diagnoses, second opinions, or comments on treatment plans. However, we do enjoy learning where our readers are from, as it helps us understand the reach of our work.

If you have questions or would like to share your experiences, feel free to send them to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu or write to: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Due to the high volume of inquiries, personal replies cannot be provided.

Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health.

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