You may, in fact, already take these. |
You can learn more about taurine& other amino acids at the SuppVersity
This process left the authors with relevant randomised human and animal studies investigating all supplement types/ forms of administration. A list of papers, the scientists further processed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and/or the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool for human and animal studies, respectively.
Eventually, twelve studies met criteria for inclusion: 8 examined tendon healing, 4 examined muscle healing. All studies used animal models, except 2 human trials using a combined integrator (=combination supplement).
A narrative synthesis was performed via content analysis of demonstrated statistically significant effects, and thematic analysis of proposed physiological mechanisms of intervention. And here's the gist:
- Vitamin C + taurine demonstrated indirect effects on tendon healing through anti-oxidant activity, most pronounced upon local injection, but also w/ oral suupplementation
- Vitamin A + glycine showed direct effects on extra-cellular matrix tissue synthesis, both as a facilitating factor and as a substrate
- Vitamin E shows an anti-proliferative influence on collagen deposition where you certainly don't want it: in your heart muscle for-example
- Leucine directly influences signaling pathways to promote muscle protein synthesis and all sorts of proteins that are associated w/ muscle damage, whey, a high leucine protein source has also been found to promote collagen synthesis post-workout
BPC is not patentable, and thus not interesting for BigPharma. |
Table 1: Overview of effects of vitamin/amino acid supplements on tendon and muscle (Tack 2017). |
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What shouldn't be forgotten, in that, is that whey protein at dosages providing only 2-5g/d of leucine has also been shown to augment not just the adaptation of your muscles, but also your tendons in response to resistance training (Farup 2014, for example).
One theme that emerges quite consistently, by the way, is the involvement of thyroid hormones in collagen synthesis (read up on tendon & thyroid health in Oliva 2013): if you want optimal tendon health, you should thus get your labs checked regularly (including fT3 and fT4, to see where you stand conversion-wise | learn more) | Comment!
- Farup, Jean, et al. "Whey protein hydrolysate augments tendon and muscle hypertrophy independent of resistance exercise contraction mode." Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports 24.5 (2014): 788-798.
- Oliva, Francesco, et al. "Thyroid hormones and tendon: current views and future perspectives. Concise review." Muscles, ligaments and tendons journal 3.3 (2013): 201.
- Russell, Jean E., and Paul R. Manske. "Ascorbic acid requirement for optimal flexor tendon repair in vitro." Journal of orthopaedic research 9.5 (1991): 714-719.
- Tack, Christopher, Faye Shorthouse, and Lindsy Kass. "The Physiological Mechanisms of Effect of Vitamins and Amino Acids on Tendon and Muscle Healing: A Systematic Review." International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism (2017): 1-44.