So, one of my clients was taking this for nail and hair health and asked me if it could be part of her overall protein intake. So, I looked it up. Apparently, there's not a lot of research, but collagen protein has been used in ICU patients to help prevent muscle wasting.
Anyway, I looked a little more into it and saw that a lot of folks take collagen protein as a joint supplement. It is rich in glycine, but not BCAAs.
This brand and type in particular dissolves in liquid and does not gel and is virtually tasteless (unless you mix it with just water in which case you get a slight hint of burnt hair).
I've been taking it for two months and have noticed some dramatic improvements in my overall joint pain and feelings of "fragility". To be clear, I have always had a problem with exagerrated DOMS and joint pain to the point that any changes in volume, intensity, or exercise selection would make me very very sore. As you can imagine, crossfit just about broke me. I started taking creatine two years ago and found that it helped with my post workout soreness, but still felt "fragile", ie I don't like to jump or make sudden movements because it hurts. Since taking the gelatin (2 tbspns once a day) I have found that I no longer feel "fragile" and regular movement doesn't hurt. I have recently been going on some long bike rides and hikes with my kids and ordinarily these would leave me pretty sore. I've found that I'm not actually sore at all.
I've tried glycine and taurine alone as well as a few other supplements without a lot of noticeable benefit. The gelatin has made a big difference for me mainly in recovery and general well-being.
