This study will examine the effects of combining different types of dietary supplements on various aspects of health and wellbeing in middle aged women. The main outcomes of the trial will be aspects of health and wellbeing that middle aged women report as increasingly problematic, such as joint pain, fatigue, sleep, and changes in body composition, strength, and inflammation. Participants will consume the supplement(s) or placebo for 8 weeks, and outcome measures will be assessed before and after supplementation.
Female
Age 35 - 65 years old
Healthy, free from known disease
Non-smoker
Currently have a musculoskeletal injury or diagnosed condition (e.g., cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, diabetes, cancer, metabolic syndrome, uncontrolled hypertension, gastrointestinal disease, blood clotting disorder)
Regularly taking prescription medication initiated in the last 3 months or unstable
Have initiated hormone replacement therapy within the last 3 months and/or currently unstable
BMI not between 18-30 kg/m2
Parallel
Collagen peptides and omega-3
Dietary supplementCollagen peptides daily for 8 weeks (\~10 g/day) Omega-3 supplement daily for 8 weeks (2 capsules/day)
Placebo control
Dietary supplementMaltodextrin (\~10 g/day) for 8 weeks
Joint pain under 3 conditions as measured by a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS)
Participants will place a vertical line on the VAS (ranging from no pain (0 mm) to unbearable pain (100 mm)) which will be measured and recorded. Participants will complete a separate VAS for each of the 3 conditions: after standing rest, after 5 body weight squats, and in response to pain levels during daily activities in the last week (such as walking, getting up from chairs, exercising).
Hand grip strength dynamometry (kg)
Hand grip strength will be assessed following the Southampton Protocol, where 3 measures will be taken for each hand.
Blood pressure (mmHg)
After 10 minutes of seated rest, 3 blood pressure readings will be taken and recorded using an automated cuff.
Fatigue under 2 conditions measured by a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS)
Participants will place a vertical line on the scale (ranging from no fatigue at all (0 mm) to extremely fatigued (100 mm)) which will be measured and recorded. Participants will complete a visual analogue scale for 2 conditions: right now, and during daily activities in the last week (such as walking, getting up from chairs, exercising).
Sleep quality measured by an Athens Insomnia Scale
The Athens Insomnia Scale is an 8-point questionnaire where participants rank different aspects of their sleep (sleep induction, awakenings during the night, final awakening, total sleep duration, overall sleep quality, sense of wellbeing during the day, functioning during the day, and sleepiness during the day) provided that it occurred at least 3 times in the last week from 0 (no issue) to 3 (serious issue). A lower total score indicates better sleep.
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