Dietary Collagen Peptides and Periodontal Inflammation

The positive influence of the regular consumption of bioactive collagen peptides on connective tissue and skin physiology has already been documented by several clinical trials. Preliminary data of an observational clinical trial involving periodontitis patients suggest that the adjunctive consumption of bio-active collagen peptides may also improve the outcome of established periodontitis therapy comprising the professional mechanical removal of disease-associated bacterial biofilms from exposed root surfaces.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 2-arm, parallel group clinical trial is designed to evaluate the impact of the regular, 3-month consumption of collagen peptides on clinical and microbiological parameter of periodontal health in a cohort of periodontal recall patients with the following endpoints:

Primary Endpoint:

Change in the percentage of periodontal pockets being positive for bleeding on probing (BoP) after the consumption of the collagen peptides in comparison to the consumption of a placebo product

Secondary Endpoints:

• changes in probing pocket depth (PPD)
• changes in clinical attachment level (CAL)
• changes in the periodontal inflammatory load as assessed by the calculation of the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) index
• changes in Gingival Index (GI) scores
• changes in Plaque Control Record (PCR) scores
• changes in Plaque Index scores
• changes in the composition of the sulcular/pocket microbiota
• changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota

Examiner calibration is performed before the onset of the trial and is repeated in 8 weeks intervals throughout the trial.

Sample Size Calculation As this is the first controlled clinical trial evaluating the impact of collagen peptide consumption on the extent of periodontal inflammation, sample size calculation is based on substitute data from preceding studies demonstrating an increase in tissue healing by up to 30%.

With a given difference of 30% reduction in the number of bleeding periodontal pockets (BoP) and an assumed standard deviation of 30% , sample size calculation resulted in a minimum of 19 subjects per group in order to be able to statistically verify differences with a power of 80%, and p<0.05.

Chi-square-test with maximum likelihood method will be used for the analysis of categorical variables, Mann-Whitney U-test will be used for the analysis of independent samples, and Wilcoxon signed rank test for the analysis of paired samples. The level of significance will be set to p≤0.05.

Study patients will be recruited from periodontitis patients seeking routine periodontal maintenance care comprising professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR) at the Dept. of Periodontology of the University Hospital Wuerzburg.

At baseline prior to the performance of PMPR all above-mentioned study parameters will be recorded. Subsequently the study participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental groups (test/placebo) and a supply of the assigned product (test/placebo) will be given to them with the instruction to consume it 1 x daily for the 3-month duration of the trial.

At 2 months (visit 2) and at 3 months (end of study) after the baseline examination all clinical and microbiological parameters will be reassessed.

Inclusion criteria

• number of teeth ≥ 10
• age ≥ 35 ≤ 70 years
• body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24 ≤ 30
• history of periodontal disease and inclusion in a regular scheme of supportive periodontal therapy (regularly repeated subgingival biofilm removal 2-4 x/year)
• presence of mild to moderate gingivitis (Gingiva Index > category GI 0 ≤ category GI 2) at a minimum of 3 teeth

Exclusion criteria

• manifestation of inflammatory oral mucosal diseases other than gingivitis
• xerostomia (salivary flow ≤ 0.1 ml/minute)
• inability for regular oral home care
• inability to follow the study protocol due to intellectual or physical handicaps
• history of malignancy, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy for malignancy in the past 5 years
• current pregnancy
• acute infections as HIV
• existence of metabolic bone disease
• smoking status of more than 10 cigarettes/day
• use of antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory medication within 4 weeks prior to screening.
• active orthodontic therapy
• diabetes mellitus type I and II
• regular consumption of medications interfering with gingival inflammation (e.g. cortisol)