Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Fabrication of Micro-tissues using Modules of Collagen Gel Containing Cells
Published on: December 13, 2010
Human Enriched Serum Following Hydrolysed Collagen Absorption Modulates Bone Cell Activity: from Bedside to Bench and
Fabien Wauquier1,2, Audrey Daneault3,4, Henri Granel5,6
1INRA, UMR 1019, UNH, CRNH Auvergne, F-63009 Clermont-Ferrand, France. Fabien_Wauquier@gmx.fr.
Abstract:
Collagen proteins are crucial components of the bone matrix. Since collagen-derived products are widely used in the food and supplement industry, one may raise the question whether collagen-enriched diets can provide benefits for the skeleton. In this study, we designed an innovative approach to investigate this question taking into account the metabolites that are formed by the digestive tract and appear in the circulation after ingestion of hydrolysed collagen. Blood samples collected in clinical and pre-clinical trials following ingestion and absorption of hydrolysed collagen were processed and applied on bone-related primary cell cultures. This original ex vivo methodology revealed that hydrolysed collagen-enriched serum had a direct impact on the behaviour of cells from both human and mouse origin that was not observed with controls (bovine serum albumin or hydrolysed casein-enriched serum). These ex vivo findings were fully in line with in vivo results obtained from a mouse model of post-menopausal osteoporosis. A significant reduction of bone loss was observed in mice supplemented with hydrolysed collagen compared to a control protein. Both the modulation of osteoblast and osteoclast activity observed upon incubation with human or mouse serum ex vivo and the attenuation of bone loss in vivo, clearly indicates that the benefits of hydrolysed collagen for osteoporosis prevention go beyond the effect of a simple protein supplementation.
Related Concept Videos
Drug Absorption: Factors Affecting GI Absorption
Fibril-associated Collagen
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
Bone Cells and Tissue
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
The osteoblast is the bone cell responsible for forming new bone tissue. It is found in the growing portions of bone, including the...
Carbohydrate Absorption
After being swallowed, the partially digested carbohydrates mix with gastric secretions in the stomach. However, the acidic environment...
Absorption of Nutrients
Enterocytes, which are specialized polar epithelial cells, line the mucosa of the small intestinal walls. These cells...
Protein Absorption

