In the first instalment of our “White Tissue” series, we talked about TENDOFORTE® – specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides® (BCP®s) for tendons and ligaments. This time, we’re putting the focus on BODYBALANCE®, which can help to support athletic performance by optimizing body composition – enhancing muscles and decreasing fat mass at the same time. This, of course, isn’t something that’s only of interest to a specific kind of athlete. It’s a basic goal that unites most sportspeople – professional or not. As such, BODYBALANCE® is a relevant ingredient for manufacturers who want to excel in the market for sports nutrition products.

Before we dive deeper into the characteristics of these specific BCPs® and the effect they have on our muscles, we need to take a quick look at some new research emerging around muscles and how this is all connected to the concept of “white tissue”.

There are already a lot of sports nutrition products aimed at muscle enhancement. But most of these only focus on “red tissue” – the contractile material that muscles are primarily composed of. What hasn’t grabbed much attention until recently is the muscle fascia – the skin-like casing that encloses the body’s muscles. This fascia is made from white tissue, as are the tendons that connect muscles to bones. If you read our last blogpost on white tissue, you will already know that it is especially rich in collagen. And that’s precisely the connection to our BCP®s, which are known to enhance collagen production throughout the body.

White tissue not only holds muscle fibres in place; it also influences their function. In simple terms, the process goes like this: The fascia (white tissue) transmits muscle contraction forces to the joints, which in turn engages tendons and ligaments to transform the mechanical forces between muscles and bones into optimal movement (Millward and Smith, 2019).

Each of our BCP®s influence collagen production in the musculoskeletal system in different ways. In the case of BODYBALANCE®, when combined with resistance training, they can help athletes to attain optimal lean body mass. In other words, consumption of these particular peptides can enhance muscle mass while at the same time reducing fat mass. Additionally, BODYBALANCE® BCP®s help to strengthen white tissue – in this case, the muscle facia and tendons that connect muscles and bones. According to the latest findings by Millward and Smith (2019), this could lead to better interaction between muscles and bones.

So far, so good. But how do the peptides work?

The effect of BODYBALANCE® BCP®s can best be explained with the help of the science behind them. Because, of course, like every one of our BCP®s, they have been examined closely in scientific studies. In one randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study, for instance, 114 healthy, moderately-sporty middle aged men took 15g of BODYBALANCE® every day for 12 weeks, while at the same time undertaking resistance training. The results showed a significant increase in fat-free mass after supplementation with our BCP®s compared with the group who took the placebo, as well as improved muscle strength and reduced waist circumference.

In another study, researchers examined the effects of collagen peptide supplementation on the body composition of older men suffering from sarcopenia (generalised loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength). During a 3-month resistance training programme, a team from the Institute of Sports and Sports Science at the University of Freiburg, Germany, monitored the effects of post-exercise supplementation with BODYBALANCE® BCPs® on sarcopenic men with an average age of 72. The results: Participants who took the BCP®s – compared with the placebo group – showed a significant increase in fat-free mass and muscle strength, while also reducing fat mass significantly.

While both of these studies concentrated on men as the subjects of their research, a research team, also from Freiburg University, investigated the peptides’ effect on premenopausal women via a randomized controlled trial. After 12 weeks, they found that – again in combination with resistance training – supplementation with BODYBALANCE® led to both a significant increase in fat-free mass and a decrease in fat mass compared to the placebo group.

So, taking everything into consideration, our BODYBALANCE® peptides are scientifically proven to help those who want to improve their body composition, while simultaneously enhancing and strengthening white tissue.

For more information, ideas for product concepts or testimonials from athletes, contact us today. And stay tuned for the next instalment of our White Tissue series, where we’ll be looking at the BCP®s in FORTIBONE®.