Researchers at Keith Baar’s Functional Molecular Biology Laboratory at the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences and the Australian Institute of Sport have found that taking gelatin supplements – coupled with bursts of intense exercise – is helpful in rebuilding ligaments, tendons, and bones.
Commonly seen among athletes and the elderly, joint and bone problems can seriously limit one’s mobility. To study the effect of supplements on ligaments and bones, the researchers developed artificial ligaments in a laboratory.
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For the study, eight young healthy men were enrolled and were given a gelatin supplements enhanced with vitamin C. The participants drank the beverage mixture and had their blood drawn and tested. More blood was taken after an hour of a short session of high-impact exercise.
The blood was tested for amino acids that could build proteins and collagen that can repair tendons, ligaments, and bone. The blood samples were also tested on the artificial ligaments created in lab.
The researchers found that the gelatin supplements raised the levels of amino acids associated with collagen synthesis which can help grow ligaments, tendons, and bone.
The researchers wrote, “These data suggest that adding gelatin and vitamin C to an intermittent exercise program could play a beneficial role in injury prevention and tissue repair.”
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
