Specific low molecular weight collagen peptides (COLLinstant® LMW) ameliorate diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction in mice: modulation of gut microbiota

This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of a low molecular weight bovine collagen hydrolysate (COLLinstant® LMW) on metabolic health using Caenorhabditis elegans and diet-induced obese mice models. In C. elegans, C-LMW improved healthspan by significantly reducing fat accumulation and reactive oxygen species, slowing the aging process, and extending the median lifespan of the nematodes. In diet-induced obese mice, C-LMW supplementation for 8 weeks led to a significant reduction in mesenteric, visceral, and total adipose tissue, improved glucose tolerance, and partial restoration of glucose homeostasis, as demonstrated by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests analysis. Additionally, collagen hydrolysate supplementation led to a significant impact on gut microbiota composition by increasing microbial diversity and modulating beneficial bacterial populations, which may contribute to the observed metabolic improvements.